Alloclavaria purpurea is a widespread coral fungus mainly found in temperate, boreal and alpine forests and it is suspected to be biotrophic. Populations are distributed across northern and alpine regions of North America and Europe and they seem to be stable across northeastern Canada, Norway and Finland, but there are regional declines estimated in Sweden and Western Canada. At its southern distributions in central Europe, it strikingly appears to face regional extinction and the status is unclear in Russia and Siberia. The moist and fertile forest habitats are likely threatened with land use change, drought and wildfires, which could severely affect future populations. Even with the large population size and stability in some regions along with the area of extent, we estimate there has been more than a 15% decline in the global population over the past three generations, and is overall assessed as Near Threatened (NT). It may possibly qualify for a threatened category in the near future.

Alloclavaria purpurea (Fr.) B.T. Dentinger & D.J. McLaughlin was separated into a new genus, as the type, based on phylogenetic and morphological evidence from 2006. Alloclavaria, or ‘‘the other Clavaria,’’ refers to the morphologically similar genus and basionym of the type species Clavaria purpurea (Fries). It is possible that A. purpurea remains a species complex and there may be additional species included in the genus (e.g., Clavaria indica and C. nebulosoides). Alloclavaria orientalis, a sister species, is described from Japan (Deng et al., 2023).

Alloclavaria purpura is one of two species in the genus. There is limited knowledge of its ecology, but appears to be most commonly found in temperate, boreal and/or alpine ecosystems. It is not a Mediterranean taxa, but was partly assessed during this initiative.

Alloclavaria purpurea is widespread in boreal and temperate forests in northern latitudes and alpine ecosystems, typically in moist and mineral rich coniferous forests. In North America, populations are quite diverse and appear to be concentrated on the West Coast, Rocky Mountains, around the Great Lakes and additionally on the East coast with some distinct genotypes based on ITS. In Europe, observations appear to be concentrated in northern regions such as Scandanavia and Russia with endangered or extirpated populations to the south in central Europe.

Given the large estimated population size and the widespread occurrence in boreal regions and extinction risks in more southern limits, this taxon is listed as Near Threatened; however, the estimated decline varies across regions. Stable populations in Finland and Norway suggest that this species is not threatened while declining suitable habitat in Sweden over the last 50 years indicates otherwise. Earlier records in more southern, temperate regions Europe have not persisted and suggests that this species could be prone to changes in land use and climate and should be monitored. In North America, populations appear to be stable in Northeast Canada, but Western Canada are considered to be vulnerable.

Alloclavaria purpurea is widespread and most commonly found in boreal and alpine forests. It is particularly fond of humid spruce forests with mineral-rich soils. Sometimes it has been found in grassy forest glades and more frequently in moist moss mats. It can be found in oversilted spruce swamp forests and at the bottom of ravines or canyon valleys. The species is significantly favored by lime and associated with nutrient-rich coniferous forests with herbaceous groundcover. Collections of basidiomes appear only in a few places in each site. Each site probably contains one or a few genetically unique fungal individuals (genets) that can all be fragmented into several free-living but genetically identical mycelia (ramets, corresponding to the IUCN definition of individual). The purple spindles are short-lived, but the soil mycelium can be long-lived, several decades, or more. Global DNA metabarcoding initiatives have found DNA occuring almost occuring exclusively in forest organic and mineral soil horizons extending from Canada and the US to Panama, Estonia, Russia and China, although there are occurences in grasslands (<5%). There has been disagreement in the literature about the ecology of A. purpurea. It has been understood to be a decomposer in the past, but the fungus appears to be associated with trees and/or moss and it likely forms mycorrhiza based on isotopic analysis of basidiomes (Krokonin et al., 2018). This has not been anatomically investigated in resynthesis experiments or with isotopic labelling. We assume a generation time of 50 years following its probable biotrophic status.

Alloclavaria purpurea requires forest environments with constant very high humidity. It cannot withstand a clear-cut or disturbances that affect the hydrology of the site. It is possible that climate induced drought or wildfires may have an impact on populations in the long-term. The effect of nitrogen deposition is unclear.

Research is needed on the ecology, which has not been anatomically investigated in resynthesis experiments or with isotopic labelling. Additionally, historic records should be sequenced to assess the quality of record. There appear to be some phenotypically similar, undocumented species in tropical regions (e.g. also in threatened cloud forests of Peru), which are dubious without DNA barcoding.

According to the list of the French Society of Mycology, this mushroom is or was considered edible. Most literature considers it inedible.