Candlesnuff Fungus - Xylaria hypoxylon, species information page

Candlesnuff Fungus - Xylaria hypoxylon, click for a larger photo

Candlesnuff Fungus - Xylaria hypoxylon
Also known as - Staghorn

This plant is poisonous.

An erect fungus, tough, spindly sometimes branched towards the top, flattened becoming rounded towards the ground, growing to 10cm (4in) tall. Colouration varies from black or dark brown at the base to white at the tip from asexual spores. Growing in gregarious clumps in open ground on rotting wood. Its common name derives for a similarity in shape to the tool used to put candles out, also from it's branched antler shape, hence Staghorn. Similar to a yellow form - the Yellow Staghorn Calocera visa, both are very similar in shape but distinctive in colour.

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