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Clavulinopsis subgenus 
Acularia

This subgenus was erected by Corner (1950) for the ornamented-spored Cu. helvola based on this character alone it seems. While spore ornamentation is not a synapomorphy for the subgenus as I am applying it based on molecular definition, the type species is certainly in this clade and thus the name is correct for this group (though there is doubt over the exact identity of Cu. helvola).

One glance at the phylogenetic tree or, for that matter, by just glancing at the morphological diversity going under the names, you can see that there is a huge amount of diversity going under just a few names. It is going to take quite a bit of work to sort these out, especially since some of them seem to potentially cross continents in distribution. There have been a few new species published in this group over the last decade but there is a lot more to sort out before the taxonomy and nomenclature are settled as there are many old names that will need to be considered. This is going to be one tough beast to tame...

This appears to be a very diverse group that is likely circumglobal. 

The most commonly used names are Cu. laeticolor (~13 species level clades including closely related species), Cu. fusiformis (~5 species level clades), and Cu. helvola in the north temperate. 

Phylogeny Reconstructed using the ITS Region

Note that (with all the phylogenies at this point) refinement could change some of the fine scale topology and hopefully future versions will be a little bit tidier when possible. There are also some very long branches in this clade imply either that further sampling will fill these out, there are some aberrant or erroneous sequences, there is some accelerated nucleotide substitution rates in this subgenus, or all of the above.

Click on the taxa labels on the right to go directly to its section.

fusiformis NN01

fusiformis IN01

fusiformis NN02

fusiformis NN03

sp. IN03

fusiformis NN04

helvola NN01

laeticolor NN01

trigonospora complex?

laeticolor CA01

laeticolor NN02

laeticolor NN03

aurantiaca

laeticolor NN05

laeticolor NN06

laeticolor NN07

bispora/laeticolor IN03

laeticolor IN02

laeticolor NN08

laeticolor IN01

erubescens

tropicalis

aspersa

Clavulinopsis fusiformis sensu lato

This species complex is recognized by it large size (compared to most other members of the subgenus) and typically densely fasciculate fruiting bodies. Microscopically, it has globose to subglobose spores with the large apiculi characteristics of the subgenus. This last character, along with the non-fading pigments, positive reaction in iron salts, and the bitter taste, help differentiate it from Clavulinopsis sp. OH01 in subgenus Clavulinopsis. Western North American reports of this species are probably of one of the scarcely to unbranched species in subgenus Donkella (CA01/03, CA02)

There appear to be five species ascribable to this name which I am not clear on how to differentiate at this point and, as always, further study is needed.

Distribution: Clades of species that could be put under this name are present in Eastern North America, Europe, and Eastern Asia.

Verified Occurrences

Click on the collections below to see link to verified observations (if applicable on iNaturalist or Mushroom Observer).

Genus
species
Type
Collection
Herbarium
Location
ITS Genbank
Certainty
Clavulinopsis
fusiformis IN01
5972
-
USA-PA
OP749034.1
Clavulinopsis
fusiformis IN01
9391
-
USA-PA
OP749635.1
Clavulinopsis
fusiformis IN01
MO 213795
PUL00036002
USA-IN
ON650111.1
Clavulinopsis
fusiformis IN01
INAT 133671316
-
USA-PA
Need
Clavulinopsis
fusiformis NN01
TENN62211-H2
TENN62211-H2
USA-TN
FJ596792.1
Clavulinopsis
fusiformis NN01
TENN62211-H1
TENN62211-H1
USA-TN
FJ596791.1
Clavulinopsis
fusiformis NN01
AMH014
TENN.071596
USA-TN
MF992158.1
Clavulinopsis
fusiformis NN01
MGW672
TENN064110
USA-TN
Need
Clavulinopsis
fusiformis NN01
610723MF0060
610723MF0060
China
KY950493.1
Clavulinopsis
fusiformis NN02
rpr-490
rpr-490
-
MW363483.1
Clavulinopsis
fusiformis NN02
ZP-1145
MHHNU 7645
China-Hunan?
MK427062.1
Clavulinopsis
fusiformis NN02
HKAS122627
HKAS122627
China-Yunnan
ON794403.1
Clavulinopsis
fusiformis NN03
1.5.176-1
1.5.176-1
Switzerland
OP538830.1
Clavulinopsis
fusiformis NN03
2.1.17
2.1.17
Switzerland
OP538776.1
Clavulinopsis
fusiformis NN03
KN_310
KN_310
Switzerland
OP538733.1
Clavulinopsis
fusiformis NN03
1.1.26
1.1.26
Switzerland
OP538780.1
Clavulinopsis
fusiformis NN03
1.2.122-2
1.2.122-2
Switzerland
OP538806.1
Clavulinopsis
fusiformis NN04
2718
2718
CAN-QUE
KM248914.1
Clavulinopsis
fusiformis NN04
PBM2804
CUW
USA-MA
Need

Clavulinopsis laeticolor complex

Well here is a nightmare incarnate of ~13 "species" of small orange to yellow fungi that are typically single to loosely cespitose in small clusters. Beyond that, there seems to be a large diversity of spore shape and size. I am using this name essentially as a catch-all for many different things that otherwise match the vague description above, including some recently published names. This group is in desperate need attention. A few species have been described recently, but where they fit with all the names available is still a bit unclear and may lead to some nomenclatural changes in the future.

Some collections labeled Clavulinopsis helvola may belong to this very widely defined complex as not all seem to have data on the spore shape/ornamentation. 

Distribution: Circumglobal.

A non-exhaustive list name names that certainly (in the case of recently published names) and likely belong to this group are as follows:

Clavulinopsis pulchra - North America

Clavulinopsis daigremontiana? - Europe

Clavulinopsis depokensis - SE Asia

Clavaria persimilis - Europe

Clavaria inaequalis var. aurantia? - Europe

Clavulinopsis amoena? (non sensu Corner) - SE Asia

Clavulinopsis antillarum - Carribean

Ramariopsis ovispora - New Zealand

Clavulinopsis luteotennerima - Australia

Clavulinopsis trigonospora - Europe

Clavulinopsis bispora - China

Clavulinopsis aspersa - China

Clavulinopsis aurantiaca - Brazil

Some of these names will very likely stand the test of time (e.g., Clavulinopsis aurantiaca) but some older names need to be sorted through first before I will be very comfortable using some of the newer names.

Verified Occurrences

Click on the collections below to see link to verified observations (if applicable on iNaturalist or Mushroom Observer).

Genus
species
Type
Collection
Herbarium
Location
ITS Genbank
Certainty
Clavulinopsis
amoena cf.
MES-2695
MES-2695
Chile
MH930255.1
Clavulinopsis
antillarum
PDD 107103
PDD 107103
NZ
Need
Clavulinopsis
antillarum cf.
R-105
R-105
Mexico
KR135337.1
Clavulinopsis
antillarum cf.
AEF142
NY 02858433
Colombia
Need
Clavulinopsis
antillarum cf.
PDD 106510
PDD 106510
NZ
Need
Clavulinopsis
aspersa
HKAS122736
HKAS122736
China-Yunnan
ON794462.1
Clavulinopsis
aspersa
HNL502071
HNL502071
Lao
UDB039675
Clavulinopsis
aspersa
HNL502072
HNL502072
Lao
UDB039676
Clavulinopsis
aspersa
PARATYPE
MHHNU10153
MHHNU10153
China-Hunan
OQ703777.1
Clavulinopsis
aspersa
HOLOTYPE
MHHNU10342
MHHNU10342
China-Hunan
OQ703778.1
Clavulinopsis
aspersa
PARATYPE
MHHNU11103
MHHNU11103
China-Hunan
OQ703779.1
Clavulinopsis
aurantiaca
ANMF495
ANMF495
Brazil
OQ968592.1
Clavulinopsis
aurantiaca
HOLOTYPE
URM 84216
URM 84216
Brazil
KC348464.1
Clavulinopsis
aurantiaca
ANMF494
ANMF494
Brazil
OQ968591.1
Clavulinopsis
aurantiaca
ACM911
ACM911
Brazil
OQ968587.1
Clavulinopsis
aurantiaca
KEL33
KEL33
Brazil
OQ968595.1
Clavulinopsis
bispora
PARATYPE
MHHNU11181
MHHNU11181
China-Jilin
OQ703781.1
Clavulinopsis
bispora
HOLOTYPE
MHHNU11188
MHHNU11188
China-Jilin
OQ703782.1
Clavulinopsis
bispora/laeticolor IN03
OSF2021-581. 00333
-
USA-PA
OM972357.1
Clavulinopsis
depokensis
JAC9622
PDD 83770
NZ
Need
Clavulinopsis
depokensis
INAT 129961757
-
NZ
Need
Clavulinopsis
depokensis
TFB7410
TENN-F-054078
NZ
Need
Clavulinopsis
laeticolor
1.2.71-1
1.2.71-1
Switzerland
OP538811.1
Clavulinopsis
laeticolor
DS1085
DS1085
Brazil
OQ968594.1
Clavulinopsis
laeticolor
KN_874
KN_874
Switzerland
OR194911.1
Clavulinopsis
laeticolor
Ryvarden11379
?
?
Need
Clavulinopsis
laeticolor
MT27
MT27
Philippines
OK446733.1
Clavulinopsis
laeticolor
ECV4178
TENN-F-068227
USA-NC
Need
Clavulinopsis
laeticolor
ANMF385
ANMF385
Brazil
OQ968590.1
Clavulinopsis
laeticolor
O'Dell557
WTU
USA-WA
Need
Clavulinopsis
laeticolor CA01
SEC514
TENN-F-047101
USA-OR
Need
Clavulinopsis
laeticolor CA01
INAT 148050563
HAY-F-000254
USA-CA
Need
Clavulinopsis
laeticolor IN01
OSF2020-090. 00026
-
USA-IN
ON059182.1
Clavulinopsis
laeticolor IN01
PBM2912
TENN-F-063829
USA-VT
Need
Clavulinopsis
laeticolor IN01
02100
-
USA-CA
OR168885.1
Clavulinopsis
laeticolor IN01
HMS22-01416
HMS22-01416
USA-IN
Need
Clavulinopsis
laeticolor IN02
3812
3812
CAN-QUE
KM248913.1
Clavulinopsis
laeticolor IN02
MGW1408
TENN.069861
USA-TN
MG677141.1
Clavulinopsis
laeticolor IN02
OSF2020-600. 1078
OSF2020-600. 1078
USA-IN
ON059217.1
Clavulinopsis
laeticolor IN02
61803
-
USA-IN
ON650110.1
Clavulinopsis
laeticolor NN02
JMB12211102
TENN-F-070850
USA-WA
Need
Clavulinopsis
laeticolor NN02
MICH340330
MICH340330
USA-MI
OM985825.1
Clavulinopsis
laeticolor NN02
INAT 100085413
iNAT.100085413
USA-PA
ON206855.1
Clavulinopsis
laeticolor NN02
OFF2021-089
OFF2021-089
USA-IN
OM987379.1
Clavulinopsis
laeticolor NN02
TRTC157008
OLD.ONT183-08.ITS
CAN-ONT
JN020997.1
Clavulinopsis
laeticolor NN03
EL 8-00
GB
Finland
EU118618
Clavulinopsis
laeticolor NN03
2.0.1
2.0.1
Switzerland
OP538697
Clavulinopsis
laeticolor NN05
MES-3040
MES-3040
USA-TN
ON383352.1
Clavulinopsis
laeticolor NN05
JMB10071004
TENN-F-065664
USA-TN
Need
Clavulinopsis
laeticolor NN05
PBM4213
TENN.074620
USA-NC
MT237494.1
Clavulinopsis
laeticolor NN06
MO 308219
-
USA-CA
MG890337.1
Clavulinopsis
laeticolor NN06
MO 308220
-
USA-CA
MG890340.1
Clavulinopsis
laeticolor NN06
JMB12191101
TENN-F-068431
USA-WA
Need
Clavulinopsis
laeticolor NN06
UBC F23885
UBC F23885
CAN-BC
KJ146701.1
Clavulinopsis
laeticolor NN07
MF07591
-
USA-NY
Need
Clavulinopsis
laeticolor NN07
TUF135685
TUF135685
Estonia
UDB0799892
Clavulinopsis
laeticolor NN07
FDS05294
CUP 071017
USA-NY
Need
Clavulinopsis
laeticolor NN07
SLB1359
WTU
USA-WA
Need
Clavulinopsis
laeticolor NN08
ACM1052
ACM1052
Brazil
OQ968588.1
Clavulinopsis
laeticolor NN08
ACM1054
ACM1054
Brazil
OQ968589.1
Clavulinopsis
laeticolor NN08
CHC201
CHC201
Brazil
OQ968593.1
Clavulinopsis
laeticolor PNW03
INAT 138548168
-
USA-OR
Need
Clavulinopsis
laeticolor NN01
ANT002-QFB28551
BOLD.ANTIC001-20.ITS
CAN-QUE
MN992315.1
Clavulinopsis
laeticolor NN01
SDR NAMA 2017-125
SDR NAMA 2017-125
USA-WI
MK575451.1
Clavulinopsis
trigonospora
PARATYPE
AMB 18587
AMB 18587
Italy
MT055968.1
Clavulinopsis
trigonospora
HOLOTYPE
AMB 18557
AMB 18557
Italy
MT055939.1
Clavulinopsis
trigonospora complex
MHHNU9186
MHHNU9186
China-Sichuan
OQ703789.1
Clavulinopsis
trigonospora complex
20180812TEMP000
-
USA-IN
ON650091.1
Clavulinopsis
trigonospora complex
UWO-HA5 (MO 215748)
UWO-HA5 (MO 215748)
CAN-ONT
KY706170.1
Clavulinopsis
trigonospora complex
MHHNU9200
MHHNU9200
China-Sichuan
OQ703790.1
Clavulinopsis
trigonospora complex
TUF117796
TUF117796
Estonia
UDB0781097
Clavulinopsis
trigonospora complex
INAT 92935347
-
USA-PA
Need
Clavulinopsis
trigonospora complex
RHP8990
TENN055650
Turkey
Need
Clavulinopsis
trigonospora complex
MHHNU10198
MHHNU10198
China-Gansu
OQ703791.1
Clavulinopsis
trigonospora complex/sp. PA01
5326
-
USA-PA
OP749759.1
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