Clavicorona pyxidata
Clavicorona pyxidata (Pers. : Fr.) Doty
Auriscalpiaceae
Conservation status. Critically Endangered [CR B1ab(i,ii,iv)].
Morphology and biology. Fruit-bodies coral-shaped, 3–10(15) cm tall, 1.5–8 wide; at first whitish ochraeous or light yellow, then yellow brown or grey brown; with dichotomous branches. Branches thicker at base, numerous, with cup-shaped, crown-like tips. Fruit-body resembling a crown, forming new 4-6 short serrate branches. Stipe short, 1.5–2.5 cm wide, concolorous with the branches. Flesh whitish. Spores ellipsoid, 3.5–5 × 2–3 µm, smooth, colourless. VIII–XI.
Habitats and populations. On dead wood in deciduous (aspen – Populus tremula, willows – Salix), mixed, and coniferous (pines – Pinus) forests.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Balkan Range (Central – near Troyan Monastery; Eastern – Ardashluka Managed Nature Reserve), Vitosha Region (Vitosha Mt), Rila Mts (near Kostenets), Rhodopi Mts (Western – between Chepinska River and Golyama Syutkya summit).
General distribution. Europe, Asia, North America.
Threats. Habitat loss/degradation caused by logging, development of tourism/recreation infrastructure, fires.
Conservation measures taken. Included in the Red List of Fungi in Bulgaria. Several localities are within the borders of Vitosha Nature Park and Ardashlaka Managed Nature Reserve. Some localities are in sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Study of the population numbers and range; better understanding of the species biology and ecology; conservation of the habitats; regular monitoring.
References. Burzakov 1930; Hinkova 1955a, 1958b; Stoichev & Dimcheva 1984, 1987b; Gyosheva et al. 2006.
Author: Melania Gyosheva
