Cordyceps militaris (L.) Fr. 1818

Cordyceps militaris (Iv.)Ivink, Handb. 3: 347. 1833
Clavaria militaris L. Sp. PI. 1182. 1753.
Ramaria farinosa Holmsk. Danske Vid.-Selsk. Skr. II. 1 : 299. 1781.
Clavaria granulosa Bull. Herb. Vr.pl. 496, f. 1. 1790.
Clavaria farinosa Dicks. PI. Crypt. Brit. 2 : 25. 1790.
Isaria farinosa Fries, Syst. Myc. 3 : 271. 1832.
Kentrosporiutn militare Wallr. Beitr. Bot. 166. 1844.
Torrubia militaris Tul. Fung. Carp. 3 : 6. 1865.
Sclerotia fortned in the pupae of insects, compact, white ; conidial phase rising from the sclerotium, consisting of a slender stalk, and a white, floccose, feather-like head ; stem slender, very variable in length and diameter, often externally whitish ; head at first with numerous delicate conidial branches, giving the whole a powdery appearance ; stromata at maturity consisting of a sterile stem and fertile, clavate head, usually simple but rarely forked or branched, the whole often attaining a height of 4-5 cm., often much shorter, bright-orange ; perithecia thickly scattered or crowded, for the most part immersed with the necks protruding, or subsuperficial (especially in weathered specimens) ; asci cylindric; spores filiform, nearly as long as the ascus, many-septate, breaking apart at the septa, giving rise to numerous subellipsoid segments 2-3 (jlong.
On pupae buried or partially buried in the ground. Type LOCALITY : Europe.
Distribution : Massachusetts to North Dakota and Virginia ; also in Europe.