Content
Clavulina rugosa is a rare and little-known mushroom of the Clavulinaceae family. It received its second name - whitish coral - due to its similarity in appearance to a marine polyp. It is important to find out whether this type of mushroom can be eaten and how to distinguish it from its counterparts.
What wrinkle clavulines look like
Externally, clavulina is similar to white coral. The shape resembles a bush slightly branched from the base or the antlers of a deer.
The stem of the mushroom is not pronounced. The fruiting body reaches a height of 5-8 cm, less often it 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 round, club-shaped, blunt, and sometimes jagged. The color of the fruiting body is white or cream, less often has a yellowish tint, and brownish at the base. When the mushroom dries, it darkens, becoming ocher-yellow. The pulp of clavulina is light, brittle, and practically odorless.
The spores are white or cream-colored, ellipsoidal in shape and medium in size.
Where do clavulina rugosa grow?
Whitish coral is common in Russia, the North Caucasus, Kazakhstan, and Western European countries. Grows in coniferous forests, on mosses. Found in single specimens or small groups of 2-3 pieces.
Fruits from the second half of August to mid-October. In dry times, fruiting bodies are not formed.
Is it possible to eat wrinkled clavulins?
It is considered a conditionally edible species and belongs to the fourth taste category. The gastronomic value of whitish coral is low, so it is rarely collected.
How to distinguish clavulina rugosa
The whitish coral has no poisonous counterparts.
It can be confused with several related species.
Clavulina ash gray
The fruiting bodies reach a height of 11 cm. They are erect, strongly branched from the very base. The color of young mushrooms is white, changing to ash-gray when mature. The branches can be wrinkled or smooth, sometimes have longitudinal grooves, at first sharp, then blunt at the ends. The pulp is fragile, fibrous, whitish. Grows in moist deciduous forests, mainly under oaks.Found singly or in small groups. Fruits in late summer, early autumn. Belongs to the edible species.
Clavulina coralliformes
Another name is comb horntail. It differs from its relative in its 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 at the ends split into short thin teeth, resembling a comb in appearance. Spore powder is white. The color of the fruiting body is lightish, ocher, grayish at the ends, sometimes with a lilac tint and even blackish. The pores are smooth, broadly elliptical. The pulp is brittle, soft, and has almost no taste or smell.
It grows in different forests in large groups, often forming rings. Clavulina coralliformis is a widespread but little-known mushroom throughout the world. 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 and has a bitter taste.
Conclusion
Clavulina rugosa has an exotic appearance due to its resemblance to coral. It differs from other similar mushrooms in being less bushy and often looks like animal horns. In some countries, such as China, it is used in folk medicine. A number of cosmetics companies include clavulin in anti-aging products.
