Gomphus clavatus, The Pig's Ear

Gomphus clavatus

Kingdom: Fungi

Phylum: Basidiomycota

Class: Agaricomycetes

Order: Phallales

Family: Gomphaceae

Genus: Gomphus

Species: clavatus

            Gomphus clavatus also known as The Pig’s Ear is an edible mushroom in the Kingdom of Fungi. It averages about 5 to 15 cm in height and about 2.5 to 10 cm wide. The pigment of G. clavatus can range from violet or purple, brown and grey to beige with light to dark brown spores. Generally, G. clavatus has a sturdy, fleshy, vase-shaped appearance with a wrinkled outer surface. It usually grows in woods and on the ground, it can commonly be found under Douglas fir trees. However, G. clavatus is not limited to the fir tree as it forms a mycorrhizal relationship with coniferous trees such as fir, spruce and beech trees. The hyphae of the fungus are closely connected with the roots of the tree and both the fungus and the tree gain from the relationship. It has been found that G. clavatus can be used for medicinal food.

Garibay-Orijel, R., Caballero, J., Estrada-Torres, A., & Cifuentes, J. (2007). Understanding cultural significance, the edible mushrooms case. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, I, 2-5.

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