Fauna
Fungus

Golden Spindles

Clavulinopsis fusiformis

Also 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
Golden Spindles reference1 / 7
(c) naturalist charlie, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by naturalist charlie · cc-by
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Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preySaprotrophic (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
Classification
  1. OrderAgaricales
  2. FamilyClavariaceae
  3. GenusClavulinopsis
  4. SpeciesClavulinopsis fusiformis
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. 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.
Related species
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