Fungus · GBIF taxon 5244486
Golden Spindles
Clavulinopsis fusiformisAlso known as Spindle-Shaped Yellow Coral, Golden Fairy Spindle, Spindle-Shaped Fairy Fan
Golden spindles burst from woodland soils and unimproved grasslands in tight, flame-like clusters of vivid yellow cylinders. Each spindle tapers at both ends, often becoming flattened, grooved, or twisted as the fruit body matures and discharges microscopic white spores across its outer surface. Functioning primarily as saprotrophic decomposers, these distinctive fungi break down leaf litter and mossy detritus throughout late summer and autumn.
FungusColorfulClavarioid
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Saprotrophic (decomposing dead plant matter, forest duff, and moss)
Predators
- Slugs and snails
- Fungus gnats
- Small woodland rodents
ThreatsAgricultural fertilizer runoff, habitat loss, and soil compaction
HabitatsTemperate mixed woodlands, mossy forest floors, and unimproved acidic grasslands
Life spanFruit bodies persist 1–3 weeks; underground mycelium lives for years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderAgaricales
- FamilyClavariaceae
- GenusClavulinopsis
- SpeciesClavulinopsis fusiformis
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Many edible mushrooms have toxic look-alikes; never eat wild fungi based on app identification alone.
Responsible observation
- Look Low: Search among moss beds and open grass patches along woodland edges after prolonged autumn rains.
- Observe Clustering: Examine the base to see if the spindles fuse into a tight communal bunch, which helps rule out solitary look-alikes.
- Avoid Disturbance: Leave fruit bodies undisturbed in unimproved pastures where they serve as key indicators of ancient, undisturbed soil.
Look-alike Bernie / Public domain · cc0
Look-alike (c) Tatiana Bulyonkova, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Jerry Cooper, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Jerry Cooper · cc-by
Same Family no rights reserved · cc0
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