Clavaria appalachiensis Coker 1923
Clavulinopsis appalachiensis (Coker) Corner 1950
There are current efforts underway to determine the exact nature of its taxonomic make-up, as indicated by Joshua Brikabek.

This is a rare species with few scattered records; occurs in soils subject to run-off and acidification

1920 PA (Buck Hills Falls) in Krypto-S
1922 NC (Blowing Rock) in FMNH
1939 Nova Scotia (Kings, Glenmont) in TENN
1942 MI (fragment, no details) in OSC
1959 ONT (Algonquin PP, under hardwood) in TRTC
1959 FL (Newnan’s Lk on soil) in FLAS
1959 ONT (Nipissing, under hardwood) in TENN
2019 TN (Sevier, Schoolhouse Gap Trail, GSMNP [Great Smoky Mountains National Park]), 35.627453 -83.693322, 549m

Since this species is tiny and often over-looked, it is likely that the population is far more extensive than what the existing collections indicate. Habitat information is lacking to almost non-existent on both the collections and in Peterson’s Clavulinopsis of North America publication. Therefore it is difficult to estimate both potential decline or threat on a habitat basis. The singular collection from NH (unvouchered) was observed to occur in a specific habitat type that is subject to possible acidification, i.e. circumneutral intermittent stream channels without herbaceous vegetation.

Singly to gregarious in moist soil and leaf litter of mixed deciduous woods; specifically found to be in humus rich soil in intermittent drainageways subject to run-off and changing pH; collection information lists “under hardwoods” “in soil” and “in soil in light woods.” The single recent (2005) collection was from a site where other Clavulinopsis species were found (e.g. C. umbrinella) where summer rains had subsided and no vegetation or leaf litter was present. These types of sites often contain Botrychium species and have been tested to have pH levels an order of magnitude larger than the nearby forest soils. These sites are therefore subject to acid precipation and run-off.

Soil acidification which could result in a reduction or loss of its occurrence on a site-by-site basis; loss of organic content in soil

More collections are needed in order to ascertain rarity. The suggestion by Coker that it was found growing on “rotten chestnut” suggests that this species may have been reduced in its population size by virtue of the loss of the American chestnut in eastern North America.

More work needs to be completed on its taxonomy (i.e. possibly two distinct species, north and south), as well as its exact distribution limits. Since so few records, no decline demonstrable although more collections are needed. The taxonomy is currently being reviewed by Joshua Birkebak.

Coker. The Clavarias of the United States and Canada: 53 (1923)
Corner, Monograph of Clavaria and allied Genera (Annals of Botany Memoirs No. 1): 355 (1950)
Peterson, R.H. 1968. The Genus Clavulinopsis in North America. Hafner: New York and London. p. 17.
http://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=5446500&HAS_COORDINATE=true&HAS_GEOSPATIAL_ISSUE=false
http://tenn.bio.utk.edu/fungus/database/fungus-database.asp?GenusID=CLAVULINOPSIS&SpeciesID=APPALACHIENSIS&CountryID;=
https://mycomap.com/genetics/blast-search/hxab7gbu014-r10443 (genblast of most recent collection)