Specimen AB#3 (White TARDIS Coral)

This was one of the first "unusual" fungi I found on my trip into the Cleveland Metroparks South Chagrin Reservation. At first I thought it might be a little white grass growing on the side of the path, but looking closer I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was in fact a fungus.

Figure 1. Tremellodendropsis Tuberosa

Figure 2. Close-up of branched tips

Name: Tremellodendropsis Tuberosa
Family: Tremellodendropsidaceae

Collection Date: 9/15/2011

Habitat: Growing beside walking path under tree cover, among fallen leaves and twigs.

Location: Cleveland Metroparks-South Chagrin Reservation

Description: “Branches 2-7 cm high, erect, tough, whitish to buff…tips often paler and brighter (whiter) when actively growing” (Arora 1986).

Collector: Andrew Burns

Key Used: Arora. D., (1986) Mushrooms Demystified 2^nd Edition, Ten Speeds Press, New York, NY

Keying Steps: 

“Coral & Club Fungi” p.630

Clavariaceae

1b. Fruiting body profusely branched from a stalk or common base…4

4b. Not hairlike, white, not colored…5

5b. Fruiting body not flattened or wavy…7

7b. Fruiting body not yellow or orange…8

8b. Branch tips not crownlike…9

9b. Fruiting body not yellow or orange…11

11b. Branches not flattened, no apparent odor…12

12b. Fruiting body rather small to medium sized, white…base typically not large and fleshy…p.640, Clavulina & Allies

Clavulina & Allies

1b. Usually growing on ground…2

2b. Mycelial mat absent and/or fruiting body brittle…3

3b. Fruiting body not lavender or purple…4

4a. Overall color white…found mainly under hardwoods in eastern North America… p.643, Tremellodendron Tuberosa