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Clavulina wrinkle is a rare and little-known mushroom of the Clavulinaceae family. It got its second name – whitish coral – because of the similarity in appearance with a marine polyp. It is important to find out if this type of mushroom can be eaten, how to distinguish it from twins.
What do wrinkled clavulins look like?
Outwardly, clavulina looks like white coral. In shape, it resembles a bush or deer antlers, slightly branched from the base.
The stem of the fungus is not expressed. The fruiting body reaches a height of 5-8 cm, rarely grows up to 15. It consists of several wrinkled or smooth branches 0,4 cm thick. They can be horn-shaped or sinuous, slightly flattened, rarely hollow inside. In young specimens, the ends of the branches are pointed, then they become rounded, club-shaped, blunt, sometimes serrated. The color of the fruiting body is white or cream, less often it has a yellowish tint, brownish at the base. When the mushroom dries, it darkens, becoming ocher yellow. The pulp of the clavulina is light, brittle, practically odorless.
The spores are white or cream, ellipsoid in shape and medium in size.
Where do wrinkled clavulins grow?
Whitish coral is common in Our Country, the North Caucasus, Kazakhstan, and Western Europe. Grows in coniferous forests, on mosses. Occurs singly or in small groups – 2-3 pieces.
It bears fruit from the second half of August to mid-October. In dry times, fruiting bodies are not formed.
Is it possible to eat clavulina wrinkled
It is considered a conditionally edible species, belongs to the fourth taste category. The gastronomic value of whitish coral is low, so it is rarely harvested.
How to distinguish wrinkled clavulins
Whitish coral does not have poisonous counterparts.
It can be confused with several related species.
Clavulina ash gray
Fruiting bodies reach a height of 11 cm. They are erect, strongly branching from the very base. The color of young mushrooms is white, in maturity it changes to ash-gray. The branches can be wrinkled or smooth, sometimes have longitudinal furrows, at the ends, first sharp, then blunt. The pulp is fragile, fibrous, whitish. It grows in moist deciduous forests, mainly under oaks. Found singly or in small groups. Fruits in late summer, early autumn. Refers to edible species.
Clavulina coral
Another name is comb horn. It differs from its relative in smaller height and greater thickness. It grows up to 2-6 cm, the width at the base reaches 1 cm. It has many branches, which split at the ends into short thin teeth, resembling a comb in appearance. Spore powder is white. The color of the fruit body is lightish, buffy, grayish at the ends, sometimes with a lilac tint and even blackish. The pores are smooth, broadly elliptical. The pulp is brittle, soft, has almost no taste and smell.
It grows in different forests in large groups, often forming rings. Clavulina coralline is a world-wide, but little-known mushroom. In a number of sources, it is classified as conditionally edible with low taste. It is not customary to collect it for consumption. According to other sources, this mushroom is inedible, it has a bitter taste.
Conclusion
Clavulina wrinkled has an exotic appearance due to its resemblance to corals. It differs from other similar mushrooms in less bushiness and often looks like animal horns. In some countries, for example, in China, it is used in folk medicine. A number of cosmetics companies include clavulina in their anti-aging products.