Species details

White spindles

Clavaria fragilis

Inedible
White spindles – Clavaria fragilis

Photo: Michele Wiseman · CC BY 4.0 · Photo source · License

Description

A snow-white, very brittle, worm-like club fungus growing in clusters on old unfertilised grassland and in open woodland.

Identification features

Fruitbodies about 3–8 cm tall and 2–3 mm thick, entirely white, unbranched, often slightly curved and extremely brittle. The pointed tip may yellow slightly.

Identification checklist

Check the entirely white colour, unbranched thin clubs and extreme brittleness; several often grow together in a cluster.

How to separate similar species

Clavaria fumosa is greyish to smoky-coloured. Microscopic characters may also be important for reliable identification of white club fungi.

Habitat

Grows among grass and moss in open deciduous woodland and on unfertilised grassland in late summer and autumn.

Fruiting period

August, September, October

Similar species

Extended-description sources