CORAL FUNGI 



109 



.SPAK.V.S.SI.S 



Cap much branched forming a dense rusette of flat leaf-like branches, l-'clible. 

 The name means torn to pieces, and refers to the greatly branched cap. 



Sparassis crispa Leaf Coral 



Cap 10-50 cm. wide by 6-30 cm. high, "whitish to yellowish, the branches some- 

 what trans])arent, flat, curly at the edge, joined below into a root-like base; spores 

 yellowish, ellipsoid, 5-6 >^ 3-4/i. The name refers to the curled branches. 



( )n grcund in woodland and grassland, summer and autunni ; delicious. 





Figure 73, Sp,\k.vssis crisc.-x 



CLAYAKIA 



Cap greatly branched and coral-like, or simple and club-shaped, more or less 

 fleshy or fleshv-leatherv. The branches and clubs are usually rounded, somewdiat 

 flattened toward the tips, and there is no clear distinction between stem and cap, as 

 in P h y s a 1 a c r i a. Our forms are edible ; they grow on the ground or on wood. 

 The name refers to the club-shaped jilants or branches. 



Key to the Species 



1. Cap branched, more or less coral-like 

 a. On the ground 



(1) Cap \vhite or whitish 



C. coralloiili-s 



