468 



MUSHROOMS, EDI B LB AND OTHERWISE 



thickness ; whitish, or yellowish, elastic, the branches numerous, crowded, elongated, 

 divided at the ends into yellow branchlets, which are thin, straight, obtuse or toothed. 



The spores are elongated-oval, rough, buff-colored, i6x8/x. 



This is an extremely beautiful plant, very tender or brittle. When the plant 

 is quite young, just coming through the ground, the tips of the branches are often 

 of a bright red or pink. This bright color soon fades, leaving the entire plant 

 a light yellow in color. 



The plant has a wide distribution, and is found on the ground in the woods, 

 frequently growing in rows. While the handsomest of the Clavarias, it is not the 

 best, and only the tender parts of the plant should be used. It is found from 

 July to October. The specimen in Figure 392 was found in Poke Hollow. 



Clavaria cristata. Pers. 



The Crested Ceavaria. Edible. 



Cristata i s 

 from cristatus, 

 crested. This is 

 a smaller plant 

 than the C. flava 

 or C. botrytes. 

 It is usually two 

 to three inches 

 high, white or 

 whitish, the 

 tufts of broad 

 flattened branch- 

 es, sometimes 

 tinged with a 

 dull pink or 

 creamy - yellow. 

 The branches 

 are numerous, 

 widened and 



flattened above, deeply cut into several finger-like points, sometimes so numerous 



as to give it a crested appearance. This peculiar characteristic distinguishes it 



from C. coralloides. When the plant is old the tips usually turn brown. 



Sometimes a form will be found in which the crested appearance is wanting, 



and in that case the branches terminate in blunt points. The stem is short and 



inclined to be spongy. 



It is found in the woods, in cool, moist, shady places. While it is tougher 



than some of the other species, if cut fine and well cooked it is very good. I have 



eaten it for years. It is found from June to October. 



Figure 393. Clavaria cristata. 



Photo by C. G. Lloyd. 



