| Spathularia flavida | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Ascomycota |
| Class: | Leotiomycetes |
| Order: | Rhytismatales |
| Family: | Cudoniaceae |
| Genus: | Spathularia |
| Species: | S. flavida
|
| Binomial name | |
| Spathularia flavida Pers. (1797)
| |
| Synonyms[1][2] | |
|
Helvella clavata Schaeff. (1774) | |
Spathularia flavida | |
|---|---|
 | Smooth hymenium |
 | Hymenium attachment is not applicable |
 | Stipe is bare |
 | Spore print is buff |
 | Ecology is saprotrophic |
 | Edibility is edible or unknown |
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 with a flat, wavy or lobed cream to yellow colored "head" raised on a white to cream stalk. The height is usually approximately 2–5 cm (3⁄4–2 in), and up to 8 cm (3+1⁄8 in). The fungus fruits on the ground in mosses, forest duff or humus, and fruit bodies may occur singly, in large groups, or in fairy rings. The spores produced by the fungus are needle-like, and up to 95 μm long. Several varieties have been described that differ largely in their microscopic characteristics. S. flavida has been described by authorities variously as inedible, of unknown edibility, or edible but tough.