Xylaria hypoxylon

Morphological Features:

Carpophore typically found during autumn in its conidial form, also called anamorphic, consisting of a black filament 2 to 5 cm tall, bifurcated at the apex into horn-like structures with a whitish-grey coloration. The whitish appearance is actually due to the conidia themselves, which impart a powdery texture to the carpophore. In spring, however, this species appears in its primary teleomorphic (ascogenous) form, presenting as a thickened, pustulate black stroma.

Hymenium located on the external surface of the ascocarp, black in the main form and pustulate due to the perithecia containing the spores, whitish in the imperfect form.

Stipe absent as such; although the ascocarp tapers towards the base, it does not constitute a true stipe.

Flesh not particularly distinct, lacking any notable odor or taste.

Habitat:

It appears exclusively in spring in its main form, whereas the conidial form occurs throughout the year, always on the wood of various broadleaf trees, and more rarely on conifers.

Observations:

This otherwise frequent species in our forests lacks value. In its main form it may be confused with Xylaria carpophila, generally associated with beeches and more slender, or with Xylaria filiformis, which is even smaller.