Xylaria
Encyclopedia
Xylaria is a genus of ascomycetous fungi
commonly found growing on dead wood
. The name comes from the Greek xýlon meaning wood (see xylem
).
Two of the common species of the genus are Xylaria hypoxylon
and Xylaria polymorpha
.
Xylaria hypoxylon
, also known under the common names "Stag's Horn" or "Candle-snuff Fungus", is the most conspicuous because of its erect 3–7 cm tall, antler-like ascocarp
s (fruitbodies) which are black at the base (where the perithecia are embedded) but white and branched towards the top, where the fruitbodies produce white conidia (asexual spores).
Xylaria polymorpha
, "Dead Man's Fingers", often grows in finger-like clusters from the base of a tree or from wood just below ground level.
Xylaria longipes, also known under the common names "Dead Moll's Fingers" or "Pénis de bois mort" allegedly improves the quality of the wood used in string instruments, in lightening its structure, in particular that of the back usually in maple.
Ascomycota
The Ascomycota are a Division/Phylum of the kingdom Fungi, and subkingdom Dikarya. Its members are commonly known as the Sac fungi. They are the largest phylum of Fungi, with over 64,000 species...
commonly found growing on dead wood
Dead wood
Forestry and gardening* coarse woody debris, fallen dead trees and the remains of large branches on the ground in forests.* large woody debris, logs, branches, and other wood that falls into streams and rivers....
. The name comes from the Greek xýlon meaning wood (see xylem
Xylem
Xylem is one of the two types of transport tissue in vascular plants. . The word xylem is derived from the Classical Greek word ξυλον , meaning "wood"; the best-known xylem tissue is wood, though it is found throughout the plant...
).
Two of the common species of the genus are Xylaria hypoxylon
Xylaria hypoxylon
Xylaria hypoxylon is an inedible species of fungus in the genus Xylaria. It is known by a variety of common names, such as the candlestick fungus, the candlesnuff fungus, carbon antlers, or the stag's horn fungus. The fruit bodies, characterized by erect, elongated black branches with whitened...
and Xylaria polymorpha
Xylaria polymorpha
Xylaria polymorpha, commonly known as dead man's fingers, is a saprobic fungi. It is a common inhabitant of forest and woodland areas, usually growing from the bases of rotting or injured tree stumps and decaying wood. It has also been known to colonise substrates like woody legume pods, petioles,...
.
Xylaria hypoxylon
Xylaria hypoxylon
Xylaria hypoxylon is an inedible species of fungus in the genus Xylaria. It is known by a variety of common names, such as the candlestick fungus, the candlesnuff fungus, carbon antlers, or the stag's horn fungus. The fruit bodies, characterized by erect, elongated black branches with whitened...
, also known under the common names "Stag's Horn" or "Candle-snuff Fungus", is the most conspicuous because of its erect 3–7 cm tall, antler-like ascocarp
Ascocarp
An ascocarp, or ascoma , is the fruiting body of an ascomycete fungus. It consists of very tightly interwoven hyphae and may contain millions of asci, each of which typically contains eight ascospores...
s (fruitbodies) which are black at the base (where the perithecia are embedded) but white and branched towards the top, where the fruitbodies produce white conidia (asexual spores).
Xylaria polymorpha
Xylaria polymorpha
Xylaria polymorpha, commonly known as dead man's fingers, is a saprobic fungi. It is a common inhabitant of forest and woodland areas, usually growing from the bases of rotting or injured tree stumps and decaying wood. It has also been known to colonise substrates like woody legume pods, petioles,...
, "Dead Man's Fingers", often grows in finger-like clusters from the base of a tree or from wood just below ground level.
Xylaria longipes, also known under the common names "Dead Moll's Fingers" or "Pénis de bois mort" allegedly improves the quality of the wood used in string instruments, in lightening its structure, in particular that of the back usually in maple.