# Candlesnuff Fungus (*Xylaria*)

Candlesnuff Fungus looks like tiny white candles sticking up from the ground! It's a fun sight to see in the woods.

- **Category:** [Fungi](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/fungi)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Decaying wood
- **Also known as:** Dead Man's Fingers, Dead Man's Fingers Fungus, Xylaria Fungus

![Candlesnuff Fungus](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771425903/objects/5164.jpg)

## Appearance

The Candlesnuff Fungus is a striking club-shaped or antler-like fungus, typically black at the base with distinctive white, powdery tips. These tips give it the appearance of snuffed-out candles, making it easy to identify on dead wood.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Fungi
- **Phylum:** Ascomycota
- **Class:** Sordariomycetes
- **Order:** Xylariales
- **Family:** Xylariaceae
- **Genus:** Xylaria

## Interesting facts

- It got its name because its white tips resemble the burnt wicks of extinguished candles.
- Its unique white tips are actually tiny spores ready to drift away in the wind!
- Look for it on old tree stumps and fallen branches, especially in damp forests.
- The fungus often grows in clumps, making it look like a collection of mini stag horns.

## Special abilities

- **Wood Recycler:** Candlesnuff Fungus can break down tough dead wood because it produces powerful enzymes that help return nutrients to the forest.
- **Spore Sprinkler:** Candlesnuff Fungus has fuzzy white tips that release tiny, visible spores, helping them easily spread to new pieces of dead wood.
- **Survival Strategist:** Candlesnuff Fungus has perennial fruiting bodies that can survive through winter, allowing it to grow and release spores over a long period.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 2-6 cm
- **Edible:** inedible
- **Growth Substrate:** wood
- **Season:** Year-round
- **Spore Color:** Black

## Ecological connections

- **Depends on:** [European Beech](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-beech) (*Fagus sylvatica*) — Decomposes dead wood of this tree species.
- **Depends on:** Pedunculate Oak (*Quercus robur*) — Feeds on decaying logs and stumps of oak.
- **Depends on:** European Aspen (*Populus tremula*) — Helps break down dead aspen wood.

## Traits

- [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons.
- [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
- [Spore Producing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spore-producing): Spore-producing organisms reproduce by releasing small, often single-celled, reproductive units called spores.
- [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.

## Collections

- [Fungi](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/fungi)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Do not pick or eat anything you find. Some plants and mushrooms can be harmful.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Candlesnuff Fungus?

Compare the cap shape, the underside, the stem and base, and whether the fungus grows on wood or soil. Some fungi have gills, others pores or teeth. A cap seen only from above often hides the most useful features. Mushroom Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Candlesnuff Fungus?

2-6 cm

### Is Candlesnuff Fungus edible?

inedible

### Where is Candlesnuff Fungus usually found?

Decaying wood

### What does Candlesnuff Fungus grow on?

wood

### When is Candlesnuff Fungus in season?

Year-round

### What color are Candlesnuff Fungus spores?

Black

## More Fungi

- [Field Mushroom](https://www.snappit.app/explore/field-mushroom) (*Agaricus*)
- [Button Mushroom](https://www.snappit.app/explore/button-mushroom) (*Agaricus*)
- [Portobello Mushroom](https://www.snappit.app/explore/portobello-mushroom) (*Agaricus*)
- [Shiitake](https://www.snappit.app/explore/shiitake) (*Lentinula*)

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Source: [Candlesnuff Fungus: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/candlesnuff-fungus)