Species details
Pig's ears
Gomphus clavatus
Conditional / expert preparation
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.
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
Ecology
- Host trees
- Spruce (Picea), Beech (Fagus), Fir (Abies)
- Notes
- Grows in groups or rings in mixed and montane woods with beech, fir and spruce, mainly in late summer and autumn.
How to separate similar species
Clavariadelphus truncatus lacks the same strongly veined fertile surface. Rare species are best observed in place.
Similar species
- Truncated club (Clavariadelphus truncatus)
- Cantharellus species
- Craterellus species
Conservation
- Protected species
- Yes
- Red list
- R – rare species
- Notes
- The species is legally protected in Slovenia under the regulation on protected wild fungi. On the Slovenian Red List: R – rare species.