Basionym:
Clavaria capitata Holmsk., Beata ruris otia fungis danicis 1: 38 (1790) [MB#491143]
Obligate synonyms:
- Cordyceps capitata (Holmsk.) Fr., Observationes Mycologicae. Cancellans Edition 2: 317 (1818) [MB#191258]
- Sphaeria capitata (Holmsk.) Pers., Commentatio de Fungis Clavaeformibus: 13 (1797) [MB#162550]
- Torrubia capitata (Holmsk.) Tul. & C. Tul., Selecta Fungorum Carpologia: Nectriei- Phacidiei- Pezizei 3: 22 (1865) [MB#465463]
- Elaphocordyceps capitata (Holmsk.) G.H. Sung, J.M. Sung & Spatafora, Stud. Mycol. 57: 37 (2007) [MB#504192]
- Cordylia capitata (Holmsk.) Fr., Observationes Mycologicae 2: 317 (1818) [MB#634268]
Taxonomic synonyms:
- Cordyceps canadensis Ellis & Everh., Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club 25: 501 (1898) [MB#191015]
- Cordyceps capitata var. canadensis (Ellis & Everh.) Lloyd, Mycological Writings 5 (44): 609 (1916) [MB#504363]
- Cordyceps nigriceps Peck, Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club 27: 21 (1900) [MB#171027]
- Sphaeria agariciformis Bolton, An History of Fungusses, Growing about Halifax 3: 130 (1789) [MB#495075]
- Cordyceps agariciformis (Bolton) Seaver, North American Flora 3: 53 (1910) [MB#119796]
- Helotium agariciforme (Bolton) Lam. & DC., Flore française, Ed. 3 2: 75 (1805) [MB#249615]
- Sphaeria capitata var. agariciformis (Bolton) Pers., Synopsis methodica fungorum: 3 (1801) [MB#498789]
- Xylaria agariciformis (Bolton) Gray, A natural arrangement of British plants 1: 511 (1821) [MB#562336]