Spathularia flavida

Spathularia flavida

Apparently Secure (NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Ascomycota
Class: Leotiomycetes
Order: Rhytismatales
Family: Cudoniaceae
Genus: Spathularia
Species:
S. flavida
Binomial name
Spathularia flavida
Pers. (1797)
Synonyms

Helvella clavata Schaeff. (1774)
Boletus elvela Batsch (1783)
Spathularia flava Pers. (1797)
Spathularia clavata (Schaeff.) Sacc. (1889)
Mitruliopsis flavida Peck (1903)

Spathularia flavida
Mycological characteristics
Smooth hymenium
Hymenium attachment is not applicable
Stipe is bare
Spore print is buff
Ecology is saprotrophic
Edibility is edible or unknown

Spathularia flavida, commonly known as the yellow earth tongue, the yellow fan, or the fairy fan, is an ascomycete fungus. It produces a small, fan- or spoon-shaped fruit body with a flat, wavy or lobed cream to yellow colored "head" raised on a white to cream stalk. It is usually 2–5 cm (34–2 in) tall. The spores produced by the fungus are needle-like, and up to 95 μm long. Several varieties have been described that differ largely in their microscopic characteristics.

The fungus fruits on the ground in mosses, forest duff or humus, and fruit bodies may occur singly, in large groups, or in fairy rings. It is found in coniferous forests of Asia, Europe and North America. It has been described by authorities variously as inedible, of unknown edibility, or edible but tough.