Clavariadelphus pistillaris

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 10 and 30 cm and its width between 1 and 5 cm. 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. It has a weak, but pleasant scent.

Similar species
Through its appearance it could be mistaken for C. truncatus, a species found in coniferous montane forests.

Habitat and distribution
Native to Europe and North America, the rare species grows during summer and autumn, almost exclusively in beech forest on calcareous soil on litter and woodchips.

Uses
The species is recorded as being edible. There have been reports of the mushroom being a "nutraceutical and/or functional food" due to its high antioxidant activity and containing essential fatty acids.

According to one field guide, the americana variety of the species usually does not have enough flesh to make it worthwhile to eat.