commonly known yellow earth tongue yellow fan fairy fan fungus found coniferous forests asia europe north_america produces small shaped fruit body flat cream yellow colored head raised white cream stalk height usually approximately fungus fruits ground forest fruit bodies occur singly large groups fairy rings spores produced fungus needle like long varieties described differ largely microscopic characteristics described authorities variously unknown edibility edible tough taxonomy naming species described german botanist gave called der club shaped vernacular christian published new replacement published legitimate sanctioned edition according database additional synonyms include defined august published publication american mycologist considered species mushroom commonly known yellow earth tongue yellow fan fairy fan called yellowish natural arrangement british plants specific epithet latin blonde golden yellow description shaped fruit bodies high range typical occasionally fruit bodies produced head split separate color light strong yellow flattened fertile area times paler color tends age fruit body fertile area region produces spores irregularly apex wide length stem half total stem length division head stem sharply defined stem hollow smooth white yellowish base flesh fruit body whitish yellowish brown dry edibility variously described unknown edible tough small size likely discourage table use odor taste distinctive microscopic characteristics mass spores appear yellowish brown especially dry viewed microscope appear hyaline translucent spores variable size typically range non slender pointed outer wall gelatinous layer spore bearing structures club shaped dimensions covering lid known sterile cells found hymenium hyaline translucent ring shaped variants described number varieties based largely differences shapes sizes spores varieties described collections united_states var typical variety spores range size smaller range typical slightly branched curved var variety curved twisted form dense layer var spores smaller typical variety usually irregularly branched upper portion fruit bodies variety club shaped flattened compared typical tongue shape typical variety var variety common michigan spores var variety known pacific_northwest spores similar typical variety similar species distinguished velvet foot fairy fan differences stem brown smooth yellowish result thin layer hyphae cover stem project short hyphae outward surface closely related species color spores measure branched upper parts roughly similar appearance lacks sharply differentiated shaped head stem lighter color head smaller oval elliptical spores measure yellowish earth tongue fungus defined oval shaped head shaped spores ecology habitat distribution fruit bodies grow scattered groups forest conifers summer fall grow rings arcs thought saprobic species obtaining nutrients dead organic matter found rotten wood fungus able protect common mushroom releasing compounds injured cosmopolitan widespread species common temperate regions pacific_northwest region north_america extending north alaska unknown mexico europe collected britain germany spain austria belgium scandinavia italy asia reported india japan turkey considered protected species slovakia field guide says species ground looking
Spathularia flavida