Clavaria fragilis was originally described from Denmark in 1790 by Danish naturalist and mycologist Theodor Holmskjold,[2] and was sanctioned under this name by Elias Magnus Fries in his 1821 Systema Mycologicum.

The species was redescribed by Swedish mycologist Olof Swartz in 1811, using the name Clavaria vermicularis (the epithet meaning "wormlike").

[1] In North America, the fungus has colloquially been called "fairy fingers"[4] or "white worm coral".

[7] The fruit bodies of C. fragilis are irregularly tubular, smooth to furrowed, sometimes compressed, very fragile, white, up to 15 cm (6 in) tall and 7 mm (1⁄4 in) thick, and typically grow in dense clusters.

[13] Similar fungi with simple, white fruit bodies include Clavaria acuta, an equally widespread species that typically grows singly or in small groups rather than in dense clusters[14] and can be distinguished microscopically by its clamped basidia and larger spores;[8] the morphologically similar, but rare C. atkinsoniana, found in the southwestern and central United States, which cannot be distinguished from C. fragilis by field characteristics alone but has larger spores—8.5–10 by 4.5–5 μm;[15] C. rubicundula, another North American species, which is similar in stature but has a reddish tint;[16] and Multiclavula mucida, a widespread lichenized species with smaller fruit bodies that occurs with its associated algae on moist wood.

[17] The species occurs throughout the Northern Hemisphere, in Europe (from July to October),[9] Asia, and North America.

[18] The fungus grows in woodland and in grassland on moist soil, and is presumed to be saprobic, rotting fallen leaf litter and dead grass stems.

[24] Clavaria fragilis is nonpoisonous[25] and reportedly edible raw or cooked,[9] but the fruit bodies are insubstantial and fragile.