About Alloclavaria purpurea (O.F.Müll.) Dentinger & D.J.McLaughlin
This fungus, Alloclavaria purpurea, produces fruiting bodies made up of many slender, cylindrical spindle-shaped structures. These fruiting bodies can reach up to 12 centimetres (4+3⁄4 inches) in total height, and each individual spindle measures 2–6 millimeters thick. The fruit bodies are purple or lavender in color, though this color fades to tan in older specimens. A patch of white mycelium grows at the base of the fruiting body, and it produces a white spore print. Similar species to Alloclavaria purpurea include Clavaria fumosa and C. zollingeri. Fruit bodies grow in spruce-fir forests. On the West Coast of North America, they can be found from October to December, while in more inland areas they appear from July to October. It is reported to be edible, but it does not provide a substantial amount of edible material.
