et often grows from three to five inches high. The color of the entire
plant is violet; it is very much branched or almost simple; branches
round, even, fragile, smooth, obtuse. The spores are elliptical,
pale-ochraceous, sub-transparent, 10-12x6-7u.

This plant is quite common around Chillicothe, and it has a wide
distribution over the United States. The specimens in Figure 387 were
found in Poke Hollow.

_Clavaria stricta. Pers._

THE STRAIGHT CLAVARIA. EDIBLE.

[Illustration: _Photo by C. G. Lloyd._

Figure 388.--Clavaria stricta.]

Stricta is a participle from _stringo_, to draw together. The plant is
very much branched, pale, dull-yellow, becoming brownish when bruised;
the stem somewhat thickened; branches very numerous and forked,
straight, even, densely pressed, tips pointed. The spores are dark
cinnamon. It is found on the Huntington hills near Chillicothe. Look for
it in August and September.

_Clavaria pyxidata. Pers._

THE CUP CLAVARIA. EDIBLE.

[Illustration: Figure 389.--Clavaria pyxidata. Natural size.]

Pyxidata is from _pyxis_, a small box. This plant is quite fragile,
waxy, light-tan in color, with a thin main stem, whitish, smooth,
variable in length, branching and rebranching, the branches ending in a
cup. The spores are white.

It is found on rotten wood and is readily recognized by the cup-like
tips. The specimen in Figure 389 was found near Columbus and
photographed by Dr. Kellerman. Found from June to October.

_Clavaria abietina. Schum._

THE FIR-WOOD CLAVARIA.

[Illustration: Figure 390.--Clavaria abietina.]

Abietina means fir-wood.

This plant grows in dense tufts, very much branched, ochraceous, trunk
somewhat thickened, short, clothed with a white down; branches straight,
crowded, longitudinally wrinkled when dry, branchlets straight.

The spores are oval and ochraceous.

It can be readily identified by its changing to green when bruised.

It is very common on our wooded hillsides. It is found from August to
October.

_Clavaria spinulosa. Pers._

[Illustration: Figure 391.--Clavaria spinulosa.]

Spinulosa means spiny or full of spines.

The trunk of this plant is rather short and thick, at least one-half to
one inch thick, whitish. The branches are elongated, crowded, tense and
straight; attenuated, tapering upward; color somewhat cinnamon-brown
throughout.

The spores are elliptical, yellowish-brown, 11-13x5u.

It is usually given as found under pi