The fruiting body of Xylaria hypoxylon is though, stading 2 to 8cm tall and is cylidrical to club shaped when young maturing into more of an antler shape. The mature fruiting body is black and minutely rough on the sterile lower portions of each stalk, the upper portions are covered by powdery looking, asexual conidia the form directly on the hyphae. Typically, the fruiting body appears in the spring and fall, but will pop up at any time of year if the environment is favorable.
There are many species of Xylaria, field identification is difficult with the easiest way to confirm identity being via microscopic characteristics.
X. hypoxylon is found scattered or clustered on rotting logs, stumps and buried sticks or logs. Other species of Xylaria have been found on cones, magnolia fruits, hawthorn berries and leaves. The distribution is wide and occurence is common.
Arora, D. (1986) Mushrooms Demystified. Ten Speed Press, Berkeley, CA.
Lincoff, G. (Ed.) (1981) Simon & Schuster’s Guide to Mushrooms. Simon & Schuster Inc, New York, New York.