464 



THE CORAL FUNGI 



Clavaria amethystina. Bull. 

 The Amethystine Clavaria. Edible. 



Amethystina means amethyst in color. This is a remarkably attractive plant 

 and easily recognized by its color. It is sometimes quite small yet often grows 

 from three to five inches high. The color of the entire plant is violet ; it is very 

 rruch branched or almost simple ; branches round, even, fragile, smooth, obtuse. 

 The spores are elliptical, pale-ochraceous, sub-transparent, 10-12x6-7^. 



This plant is quite common around Chillicothe, and it has a wide distribu- 

 tion over the United States. The specimens in Figure 387 were found in Poke 

 Hollow. 



Clavaria stricta, Pers. 



The Straight Clavaria. 

 Edible. 



Stricta is a participle 

 from stringo, to draw to- 

 gether. The plant is very 

 much branched, pale, dull- 

 yellow, becoming brownish 

 when bruised ; the stem 

 somewhat thickened; 

 branches very numerous 

 and forked, straight, even, 

 densely pressed, tips point- 

 ed. The spores are dark 

 cinnamon. It is found on 

 the Huntington hills near 

 Chillicothe. Look for it in 

 August and September. 



Clavaria pyxidata. Pers. 



The Cup Clavaria. Edible. 



Pyxidata is from pyxis, a 

 small box. This plant is 

 quite fragile, waxy, light- 



Photo by C. G. Lloyd. 

 Figure 388. Clavaria stricta. 



