About this fungus
Rose Spindles is a fungus in the Clavariaceae family. Its habitat and field characteristics are summarised below.
Small, smooth rose-pink clubs growing from soil among moss, grass or woodland litter, usually singly or in a loose group.
What to check
Each fruit body is a simple, slender, unbranched club with a rounded tip and often a paler base. There are no gills, pores, ring or volva. Small club fungi are difficult to identify confidently, and microscopy may be needed to confirm the name.
Variation
The colour ranges from vivid rose-pink to paler pink and may fade toward the base or as the club ages.
Lookalikes
Other pink or reddish Clavaria species and faded small clubs may be very similar. Branching, a distinctly flattened fruit body or a different microscopic spore pattern points away from this species.
Habitat and range
Reported from soil in grassland and open woodland, often among moss or short grass. Records under this name occur in several regions, but local species concepts and distributions should be checked because small Clavaria species can be misidentified.
Food safety
Edibility is uncertain or disputed.