Clavariadelphus pistillaris, commonly known as the common club coral, is a rare species of mushroom of the family Gomphaceae native to Europe and North America.
Taxonomy The western North American variety is known as C. occidentalis.
Description The mat and wrinkled fruiting body has the shape of a club with a rounded top. Its length varies between and its width between . The skin is red brown to ocher red, sometimes cinnamon brown with a lilac tint, turning brown when damaged. The spongy flesh is white. The spore print is pale yellow.
Similar species Through its appearance it could be mistaken for C. truncatus, a species found in coniferous montane forests. C. subfastigiatus is also similar.
Habitat and distribution Native to Europe and North America.
Uses The species is recorded as being edible. There have been reports of the mushroom being a "nutraceutical and/or functional food"Pereira, Eliana; Barros, Lillian; Martins, Anabela; Ferreira, Isabel C.F.R (Jan 15, 2012). “Towards chemical and nutritional inventory of Portuguese wild edible mushrooms in different habitats”. Food Chemistry. 130(2): 394-403. doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2011.07.057. due to its high antioxidant activity and containing essential fatty acids.Dimitrijevic, Marija V.; Mitic, Violeta D.; Nikolic, Jelena S.; Djordjevic, Aleksandra S.; Mutic, Jelena J.; Jovanovic, Vesna P. Stankov; Stojanovic, Gordana S. (Nov 20, 2018). "First Report about Mineral Content, Fatty Acids Composition and Biological Activities of Four Wild Edible Mushrooms". Chemistry & Biodiversity. 16(2): e1800492. doi:10.1002/cbdv.201800492.
According to one field guide, the americana variety of the species usually does not have enough flesh to make it worthwhile to eat.
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