Fauna
Fungus · GBIF taxon 5255147

Candlesnuff Fungus

Xylaria hypoxylon

Also known as Candlestick Fungus, Carbon Antlers, Stag's Horn Fungus

Candlesnuff fungus sprouts in antler-like clusters on decaying hardwood, beginning as slender black uprights coated in a chalky powder of asexual spores. As winter advances, the powdery white tips slough away to reveal a roughened, entirely black surface studded with tiny pits where sexual spores form. These tough, carbonaceous fruiting bodies persist for months, quietly breaking down tough wood fibers while recycling nutrients into the woodland floor.

DecomposerWoodlandBioluminescent
Candlesnuff Fungus reference1 / 7
Licensed reference(c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
—observations
—countries
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Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & prey
  • Saprotrophic, decomposing dead hardwood lignin and cellulose
Predators
  • Fungus Beetles
  • Springtails
  • Slugs
ThreatsIntensive forestry that clears deadwood and coarse woody debris
HabitatsDeciduous and mixed temperate woodlands on fallen logs, rotting stumps, and buried roots
Life spanSeveral months to over a year (individual fruiting structures)
Classification
  1. FamilyXylariaceae
  2. SpeciesXylaria hypoxylon
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Many edible mushrooms have toxic look-alikes; never eat wild fungi based on app identification alone.
Responsible observation
  • Examining Spores: Gently touch the chalky white tips in autumn to see powdery conidia release.
  • Log Inspection: Search the damp, shaded sides of mossy hardwood stumps during cool, wet months.
Related species
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