Clavulina sp.

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For an in situ photo if the subject of this sighting see https://canberra.naturemapr.org/sightings/4571779. When Tim showed me this fungus I was intrigued by the small size, so I collected it. At first glance you might think of it as a small Clavulina cristata or perhaps as something still very immature. Rather then being just one, highly branched fruitbody this is a cluster of very closely-packed fruitbodies. I don’t know how many there are because it’s hard to see what is happening at the bottom of all those stems. What I can say is each stem doesn’t indicate a separate fruitbody since there is some branching in the fruitbodies. A microscopic examination showed that this is by means immature since there are copious basidia and an abundance of mature spores. Each basidium produces two spores, a feature of Clavulina, and the spores are consistent with those of Clavulina cristata in terms of shape and size. However, the fungus shown here possesses sterile organs (called cystidia) that are absent in Clavulina cristata. Under the microscope the cystidia show as short, finger-like projections from the fruitbody surface. The photos of this sighting show the presence of cystidia, though not their form. Enlarge the first photo (the fungus shown fresh and white) and look around. In some areas the cystidia show as very short bristles extending from the surface. In the second photo (the fungus now dried) the cystidia show as numerous glistening dots and if you enlarge you can again see protruding bristles in some areas.

Thanks for your interest in this specimen and your advice @Heino1

Thanks for that useful and interesting information Heino. I think a few of these have been turning up for identificaion and I'm sure I might have put them or at least one down as Clavulina cristata!! Ooops...

@TimL Well, if you insist on finding interesting fungi at the ANBG, how can I not be tempted to collect them?