Alloclavaria purpurea

Alloclavaria purpurea is a coral fungus commonly known as the purple fairy club^[1] or purple coral.

Alloclavaria purpurea
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Fungi
Division:	Basidiomycota
Class:	Agaricomycetes
Order:	Hymenochaetales
Family:	Repetobasidiaceae
Genus:	Alloclavaria
Species:	A. purpurea
Binomial name
Alloclavaria purpurea (Fr.) Dentinger & D.J.McLaughlin (2007)
Synonyms
Clavaria purpurea Fr. (1821)

Alloclavaria purpurea Mycological characteristics
	Smooth hymenium
	No distinct cap
	Hymenium attachment is irregular or not applicable
	Stipe is bare
	Spore print is white
	Ecology is saprotrophic
	Edibility is edible

Taxonomy

Formerly known as Clavaria purpurea, it has been moved to its own genus as a result of phylogenetic analysis.^[2]

Description

The fruiting body comprises numerous slender cylindrical spindles that may grow to a height of 12 centimetres (4+3⁄4 in), with individual spindles being 2–6 millimeters thick.^[1] The color is purple or lavender, although the color fades to tan in older specimens.^[3] A white mycelium is present at the base.^[4] The spore print is white.^[4]

Similar species include Clavaria fumosa and C. zollingeri.^[4]

Distribution and habitat

Fruit bodies are found in spruce-fir forests.^[5] It can be found from October to December on the West Coast of North America, and July–October further inland.^[4]

Uses

It is reportedly edible^[6] but insubstantial.^[7]