SUMMARY
The genus Clavulina appears to have its evolutionary ancestral forms in the Clavariadelphus clavulinoides alliance. Clavariadelphus clavulinoides bears long, septate basidia, while Clavulina pilosa macroscopically resembles species of Clavulinopsis. Clavulina herveyi may represent a tendency toward a more highly branched state.
The origin of the subgenus Fusco-Clavulina in the subgenus Euclavulina is elucidated by C. mutabilis, a large, highly branched species with thin-walled contextual hyphae. A reduction series within Fusco-clavulina includes C. decipiens and C. castaneopes.