Species details

Pig's ears

Gomphus clavatus

Conditional / expert preparation
Pig's ears – Gomphus clavatus

Photo: Mandy Hackney · CC BY 4.0 · Photo source · License

Description

A fleshy violet to pink club-shaped fungus with a strongly veined, wrinkled fertile surface; protected in Slovenia.

Identification features

The fruitbody reaches about 10 cm in height and width, violet when young and paler with age. The outer fertile surface has forked, cross-connected ridges.

Identification checklist

Check the club-like form, violet tones of young specimens and the highly characteristic veined, cross-connected fertile surface.

How to separate similar species

Clavariadelphus truncatus lacks the same strongly veined fertile surface. Rare species are best observed in place.

Habitat

Grows in groups or rings in mixed and montane woods with beech, fir and spruce, mainly in late summer and autumn.

Fruiting period

August, September, October

Similar species

Extended-description sources