Few plants vary more than the present one in the degree
of division, the shades of colour, and character of the terminating
branches. I have seen it assume different forms, resulting
from situation, weather, and injury. In very moist
spots, it sometimes does not exceed an inch in height, and
forms a most dense mass of rounded knobby branches, so closely
wedged together, as to present almost an even surface. In
consequence of injury, it occasionally becomes proliferous, and
throws out from the margin a number of filifonn short branches,
like a fringe, while the stipes is more than usually thickened.
It is, I believe, the most polymorphous species known.
Clavaria cinerea is one of those species constantly eaten
on the Continent, probably from its greater abundance, as the
whole genus is edible. In common with Cl. coralloides, it is
tailed in France harhe de houc, bonquinbarde, gantelines,
gallinoles, frip e tte s, chevelines, p ied de coq, poide, mousse,
barbes, menottes, espignettes, diables, &c. &c. In Italy, they
are called ditola gialla, ditola rossa, and ditola bianca, according
to the colour of the varieties. They are stewed for the
table, according to P e r s o o n , with butter, pepper and salt,
ham and parsley, for an hour; and then put into a gravy sauce,
or a fricassee of fowls.
In many parts of the country it is abundant.
Fig. 1. A section of'the stipes. Fig. 2. Sporuliferous cells. Fig. 3. Sporules.