''Xylaria'' is a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

of ascomycetous fungi commonly found growing on

dead wood Dead wood may refer to: *Dead tree (disambiguation) * Dead wood, the "straight man" in a double act *Dead Wood (novel), ''Dead Wood'' (novel), a 2009 novel by Chris Longmuir * Dead Wood (film), ''Dead Wood'' (film), a 2007 British film See also< ...

. The name comes from the

Greek Greek may refer to: Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe: *Greeks, an ethnic group *Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family **Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor of all kno ...

''xýlon'' meaning ''wood'' (see

xylem Xylem is one of the two types of transport tissue (biology), tissue in vascular plants, the other being phloem; both of these are part of the vascular bundle. The basic function of the xylem is to transport water upward from the roots to parts o ...

). 'Outline of Fungi and fungus-like taxa' by Wijayawardene et al. lists up to (ca. 571) species (in 2020), and around 454 records are listed by

Species Fungorum ''Index Fungorum'' is an international project to index all formal names (Binomial nomenclature, scientific names) in the fungus Kingdom (biology), kingdom. As of 2015, the project is based at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, one of three partn ...

(including synonyms). Two of the common species of the genus are ''

Xylaria hypoxylon ''Xylaria hypoxylon'' is a species of bioluminescent fungus in the family Xylariaceae. 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 ascocarp, fru ...

'' and '' Xylaria polymorpha''. ''

'', known by the common names stag's horn and candle-snuff fungus, is the most conspicuous because of its erect, 3–7 cm tall, antler-like

ascocarp An ascocarp, or ascoma (: ascomata), is the fruiting body ( sporocarp) of an ascomycete phylum fungus. It consists of very tightly interwoven hyphae and millions of embedded asci, each of which typically contains four to eight ascospores. Ascoc ...

s (fruitbodies) which are black at the base (where the

perithecia An ascocarp, or ascoma (: ascomata), is the fruiting body ( sporocarp) of an ascomycete phylum fungus. It consists of very tightly interwoven hyphae and millions of embedded asci, each of which typically contains four to eight ascospores. Ascoc ...

are embedded) but white and branched towards the top, where the fruiting bodies produce white

conidia A conidium ( ; : conidia), sometimes termed an asexual chlamydospore or chlamydoconidium (: chlamydoconidia), is an asexual, non- motile spore of a fungus. The word ''conidium'' comes from the Ancient Greek word for dust, ('). They are also ...

(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. This is a primary fungus utilized in the

spalting Spalting is any form of wood coloration caused by fungi. Although primarily found in dead trees, spalting can also occur in living trees under stress (biology), stress. Although spalting can cause weight loss and strength loss in the wood, the uniq ...

of sugar maple and other hardwoods. ''

Xylaria longipes ''Xylaria longipes'', commonly known as dead moll's fingers, is a species of fungus in the family Xylariaceae. Taxonomy ''Xylaria longipes'' was first described by the German botanist and mycologist Theodor Rudolph Joseph Nitschke in the first ...

'', known by the common name dead moll's fingers, allegedly improves the quality of the wood used in string instruments. It has not been linked to spalting of maple.

Species

Species in the genus include: *'' Xylaria aburiensis'' *''

Xylaria acerata ''Xylaria'' is a genus of ascomycetous fungi commonly found growing on dead wood. The name comes from the Greek ''xýlon'' meaning ''wood'' (see xylem). 'Outline of Fungi and fungus-like taxa' by Wijayawardene et al. lists up to (ca. 571) spe ...

'' *'' Xylaria acuminatilongissima'' *'' Xylaria alata'' *'' Xylaria albisquamula'' *'' Xylaria albocincta'' *''

Xylaria albocinctoides ''Xylaria'' is a genus of ascomycetous fungi commonly found growing on dead wood. The name comes from the Greek ''xýlon'' meaning ''wood'' (see xylem). 'Outline of Fungi and fungus-like taxa' by Wijayawardene et al. lists up to (ca. 571) spec ...

'' *''

Xylaria amphithele ''Xylaria'' is a genus of ascomycetous fungi commonly found growing on dead wood. The name comes from the Greek ''xýlon'' meaning ''wood'' (see xylem). 'Outline of Fungi and fungus-like taxa' by Wijayawardene et al. lists up to (ca. 571) spec ...

'' *''

Xylaria angulosa ''Xylaria'' is a genus of ascomycetous fungi commonly found growing on dead wood. The name comes from the Greek ''xýlon'' meaning ''wood'' (see xylem). 'Outline of Fungi and fungus-like taxa' by Wijayawardene et al. lists up to (ca. 571) spec ...

'' *''

Xylaria anisopleura ''Xylaria'' is a genus of ascomycetous fungi commonly found growing on dead wood. The name comes from the Greek ''xýlon'' meaning ''wood'' (see xylem). 'Outline of Fungi and fungus-like taxa' by Wijayawardene et al. lists up to (ca. 571) spec ...

'' *''

Xylaria apiculata ''Xylaria'' is a genus of ascomycetous fungi commonly found growing on dead wood. The name comes from the Greek ''xýlon'' meaning ''wood'' (see xylem). 'Outline of Fungi and fungus-like taxa' by Wijayawardene et al. lists up to (ca. 571) spec ...

'' *''

Xylaria apoda ''Xylaria'' is a genus of ascomycetous fungi commonly found growing on dead wood. The name comes from the Greek ''xýlon'' meaning ''wood'' (see xylem). 'Outline of Fungi and fungus-like taxa' by Wijayawardene et al. lists up to (ca. 571) spec ...

'' *''

Xylaria arbuscula ''Xylaria'' is a genus of ascomycetous fungi commonly found growing on dead wood. The name comes from the Greek ''xýlon'' meaning ''wood'' (see xylem). 'Outline of Fungi and fungus-like taxa' by Wijayawardene et al. lists up to (ca. 571) spec ...

'' *''

Xylaria asperata ''Xylaria'' is a genus of ascomycetous fungi commonly found growing on dead wood. The name comes from the Greek ''xýlon'' meaning ''wood'' (see xylem). 'Outline of Fungi and fungus-like taxa' by Wijayawardene et al. lists up to (ca. 571) spec ...

'' *''

Xylaria assamensis ''Xylaria'' is a genus of ascomycetous fungi commonly found growing on dead wood. The name comes from the Greek ''xýlon'' meaning ''wood'' (see xylem). 'Outline of Fungi and fungus-like taxa' by Wijayawardene et al. lists up to (ca. 571) spe ...

'' *''

Xylaria atrodivaricata ''Xylaria'' is a genus of ascomycetous fungi commonly found growing on dead wood. The name comes from the Greek ''xýlon'' meaning ''wood'' (see xylem). 'Outline of Fungi and fungus-like taxa' by Wijayawardene et al. lists up to (ca. 571) spec ...

'' *'' Xylaria atroglobosa'' *'' Xylaria atrosphaerica'' *'' Xylaria avellana'' *'' Xylaria ayresii'' *'' Xylaria azadirachtae'' *'' Xylaria bambooensis'' *'' Xylaria bambusicola'' *'' Xylaria berkeleyi'' *'' Xylaria bicampaniformis'' *''

Xylaria bissei ''Xylaria'' is a genus of ascomycetous fungi commonly found growing on dead wood. The name comes from the Greek ''xýlon'' meaning ''wood'' (see xylem). 'Outline of Fungi and fungus-like taxa' by Wijayawardene et al. lists up to (ca. 571) spe ...

'' *'' Xylaria boergesenii'' *'' Xylaria brevicephala'' *'' Xylaria brunneovinosa'' *'' Xylaria bulbosa'' *'' Xylaria candelabrum'' *'' Xylaria carabayensis'' *'' Xylaria carpophila'' *'' Xylaria castilloi'' *'' Xylaria castorea'' *'' Xylaria chardoniana'' *'' Xylaria choui'' *'' Xylaria cinerea'' *'' Xylaria citrispora'' *'' Xylaria claviceps'' *'' Xylaria clusiae'' *'' Xylaria comosoides'' *'' Xylaria compuncta'' *'' Xylaria coprinicola'' *'' Xylaria coprophila'' *'' Xylaria cordovensiformis'' *'' Xylaria coremiifera'' *'' Xylaria corniformis'' *'' Xylaria cornu-damae'' *'' Xylaria cranioides'' *'' Xylaria crozonensis'' *'' Xylaria cubensis'' *'' Xylaria culicicephala'' *'' Xylaria culleniae'' *'' Xylaria cupressoides'' *'' Xylaria curta'' *'' Xylaria dennisii'' *'' Xylaria digitata'' *'' Xylaria diminuta'' *'' Xylaria discolor'' *'' Xylaria duranii'' *'' Xylaria enteroleuca'' *'' Xylaria eugeniae'' *'' Xylaria exalbida'' *'' Xylaria feejeensis'' *'' Xylaria ficicola'' *'' Xylaria filiformis'' *'' Xylaria filiformoidea'' *'' Xylaria fioriana'' *'' Xylaria formosana'' *'' Xylaria fraseri'' *'' Xylaria friesii'' *'' Xylaria frustrulata'' *'' Xylaria furcata'' *'' Xylaria galandii'' *'' Xylaria glebulosa'' *'' Xylaria gracillima'' *'' Xylaria grammica'' *'' Xylaria griseo-olivacea'' *'' Xylaria griseosepiacea'' *'' Xylaria guaranitica'' *'' Xylaria guareae'' *'' Xylaria guazumae'' *'' Xylaria guepinii'' *'' Xylaria hainanensis'' *'' Xylaria heliscus'' *'' Xylaria himalayensis'' *'' Xylaria hippotrichoides'' *''

'' *'' Xylaria hypsipoda'' *'' Xylaria intracolorata'' *'' Xylaria intraflava'' *'' Xylaria jaliscoensis'' *'' Xylaria jolyana'' *'' Xylaria jiangsuensis'' – China *'' Xylaria kamatii'' *'' Xylaria karsticola'' *'' Xylaria kaumanae'' *'' Xylaria kretzschmarioidea'' *'' Xylaria lechatii'' *'' Xylaria lepidota'' *'' Xylaria liquidambaris'' *''

'' *'' Xylaria louisii'' *'' Xylaria luteostromata'' *'' Xylaria macrospora'' *'' Xylaria magniannulata'' *'' Xylaria magnoliae'' *'' Xylaria maitlandii'' *'' Xylaria mali'' *'' Xylaria maraca'' *'' Xylaria maumeei'' *'' Xylaria meliacearum'' *'' Xylaria mellissii'' *'' Xylaria memecyli'' *'' Xylaria mesenterica'' *'' Xylaria mexicana'' *'' Xylaria michoacana'' *'' Xylaria microceras'' *'' Xylaria minuta'' *'' Xylaria moelleroclavus'' *'' Xylaria moliwensis'' *'' Xylaria monstrosa'' *'' Xylaria montagnei'' *'' Xylaria mornandii'' *'' Xylaria multipartita'' *'' Xylaria multiplex'' *'' Xylaria musooriensis'' *'' Xylaria mycelioides'' *'' Xylaria myosurus'' *'' Xylaria myrosimila'' *'' Xylaria nigromedullosa'' *'' Xylaria obovata'' *'' Xylaria ochraceostroma'' *'' Xylaria opulenta'' *'' Xylaria oxyacanthae'' *'' Xylaria palmicola'' *'' Xylaria papulis'' *'' Xylaria papyrifera'' *'' Xylaria paulistana'' *'' Xylaria perezsilvae'' *'' Xylaria petchii'' *'' Xylaria pisoniae'' *'' Xylaria platypoda'' *''

Xylaria plumbea ''Xylaria'' is a genus of Ascomycota, ascomycetous fungi commonly found growing on Coarse woody debris, dead wood. The name comes from the Greek (language), Greek ''xýlon'' meaning ''wood'' (see xylem). 'Outline of Fungi and fungus-like taxa' ...

'' *'' Xylaria polymorpha'' *'' Xylaria polyramosa'' *'' Xylaria polytricha'' *'' Xylaria ponapeana'' *'' Xylaria potentillae'' *'' Xylaria praefecta'' *'' Xylaria primorskensis'' *'' Xylaria psamathos'' *'' Xylaria pseudoapiculata'' *'' Xylaria psidii'' *'' Xylaria pterula'' *'' Xylaria punjabensis'' *'' Xylaria queenslandica'' *'' Xylaria quercinophila'' *'' Xylaria ramosa'' *'' Xylaria ramus'' *'' Xylaria reperta'' *'' Xylaria reticulata'' *'' Xylaria rhopaloides'' *'' Xylaria rimulata'' *'' Xylaria rosea'' *'' Xylaria salonensis'' *'' Xylaria sanchezii'' *'' Xylaria scabriclavula'' *'' Xylaria schreuderiana'' *'' Xylaria scopiformis'' *'' Xylaria semiglobosa'' – China *'' Xylaria sibirica'' *'' Xylaria sicula'' *'' Xylaria sphaerica'' – China *'' Xylaria squamulosa'' *'' Xylaria stilbohypoxyloides'' *'' Xylaria stromafera'' *'' Xylaria subcoccophora'' *'' Xylaria symploci'' *'' Xylaria tanganyikaensis'' *'' Xylaria tectonae'' *'' Xylaria tenuispora'' *'' Xylaria terminaliae-bellericae'' *'' Xylaria terminaliae-crenulatae'' *'' Xylaria terricola'' *'' Xylaria thailandica'' – southern Thailand *'' Xylaria theissenii'' *'' Xylaria thindii'' *'' Xylaria tischeri'' *'' Xylaria tolosa'' *'' Xylaria tuberiformis'' *'' Xylaria tucumanensis'' *'' Xylaria tumulosa'' *'' Xylaria umbonata'' *'' Xylaria uniapiculata'' *'' Xylaria vaporaria'' *'' Xylaria vasconica'' *'' Xylaria wellingtonensis'' *'' Xylaria wulaiensis'' *'' Xylaria zealandica''

Gallery

Image:Xylaria hypoxylon.jpg, ''X. hypoxylon'' Image:Xylaria longipes Edinburg.jpg, ''X. polymorpha'' Image:Xylaria_polymorpha_(variability).jpg, ''X. polymorpha'' illustrating the range of shapes of fruiting bodies. Image:Xylaria_polymorpha_(split_ascocarp).jpg, A longitudinally split fruiting body of ''X. polymorpha'', showing the many

that lie just beneath the black outer rind. File:Deadmansfingers Jul-3-2009.jpg, ''X. polymorpha'' in early July

References

Other sources

*Deacon, J. ''Fungal Biology''. Blackwell Publishing. 2005. *Robinson, S. C. and P. E. Laks. 2010. Culture age and wood species affect zone line production of ''Xylaria polymorpha''. ''The Open Mycology Journal'' 4:18-21. *Robinson, S. C., et al. 2012. Promoting fungal pigment formation in wood by utilizing a modified decay jar method. ''Wood Science and Technology'' 46:841-849. *Robinson, S. C., et al. Methods of inoculating ''Acer'' spp., ''Populus tremuloides'', and ''Fagus grandifolia'' logs for commercial spalting applications. ''Journal of Wood Science'' in press. doi:10.1007/s10086-013-1335-5 {{Authority control Sordariomycetes genera Xylariales