''Spathularia'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial n ...

fungi A fungus (plural, : fungi or funguses) is any member of the group of Eukaryote, eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and Mold (fungus), molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified ...

in the family

Cudoniaceae The Cudoniaceae are a family of fungi in the Helotiales order. The family contains three genera: '' Cudonia'' and ''Spathularia ''Spathularia'' is a genus of fungi in the family Cudoniaceae. Species in the genus are found in coniferous ...

. Species in the genus are found in

coniferous forest Conifers are a group of cone-bearing seed plants, a subset of gymnosperms. Scientifically, they make up the division Pinophyta (), also known as Coniferophyta () or Coniferae. The division contains a single extant class, Pinopsida. All ex ...

s around the bases of

conifer Conifers are a group of cone-bearing seed plants, a subset of gymnosperms. Scientifically, they make up the division Pinophyta (), also known as Coniferophyta () or Coniferae. The division contains a single extant class, Pinopsida. All ex ...

s or near rotting logs. The genus name is

Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power ...

for 'broad sword'.

''Spathularia flavida''

Spathularia flavida ''Spathularia flavida'', commonly known as the yellow earth tongue, the yellow fan, or the fairy fan, is an ascomycete fungus found in coniferous forests of Asia, Europe and North America. It produces a small, fan- or spoon-shaped fruit body w ...

'', like other members of the family Cudoniaceae, is distinguished by having long, needle-like spores. A

common name In biology, a common name of a taxon or organism (also known as a vernacular name, English name, colloquial name, country name, popular name, or farmer's name) is a name that is based on the normal language of everyday life; and is often contra ...

for ''Spathularia flavida'' is yellow Earth tongue. The

spores In biology, a spore is a unit of sexual or asexual reproduction that may be adapted for dispersal and for survival, often for extended periods of time, in unfavourable conditions. Spores form part of the life cycles of many plants, algae, ...

are tightly packed side by side in the asci. The fruit body of ''S. flavida'' is a light yellowish-brown color and rarely of a brown color. The stipe grows to about eight centimeters in length and one centimeter in girth, and the flattened head grows on the sides of the stipe. It has a fairly smooth head and stipe, and has no odor. Several specimens were recovered in two expeditions to Sichuan Province, China, in 1997 and 1998. The habitat ranges across continents, mainly the coniferous forests of the United States and Europe. It can be found near the bases of coniferous trees in ring shaped clusters; however, sightings are rare and infrequent.

''Spathularia neesii''

''Spathularia neesii'' is similar to ''S. flavida it is roughly the same size and shape, up to 8 centimeters in length and 1 centimeter in stipe width. Their colors are also similar–both are of a pale yellow but ''S. neesii'' tends to have a pale brown, tan, color, unlike the yellow of ''S. flavida''. When dried both specimens look identical and is almost impossible to tell a difference with the naked eye. The distinguishing feature of ''S. neesii'' is the spores that measure 60 to 80 mic. long, around 20 mic. longer than that of ''S. flavida''.

References

Helotiales genera Helotiales {{Leotiomycetes-stub