Hypoxylon fragiforme (Pers.) J. Kickx f. - Beech Woodwart

Phylum: Ascomycota - Class: Sordariomycetes - Order: Xylariales - Family: Xylariaceae

Distribution - Taxonomic History - Etymology - Identification - Reference Sources

Hypoxylon fragiforme, commonly called the Beech Woodwax, appears throughout the year but is particularly noticeable during late autumn and winter. This ubiquitous little rotter is one of the pyromycetes or flask fungi.

Distribution

A very common species in Britain and Ireland, Hypoxylon fragiforme is found also throughout mainland Europe and in many parts of North America.

Taxonomic history

The scientific name Sphaeria fragiformis was given to this ascomycetous fungus in 1794 by Christiaan Hendrick Persoon, but its currently accepted name Hypoxylon fragiforme dates from 1835, when Flemish botanist Jean Jacques Kickx (1842 - 1887) transferred Beech Woodwart to the genus Hypoxylon.

The many synonyms of Hypoxylon fragiforme include Sphaeria fragiformis Pers., Hypoxylon cupreum Fr., Hypoxylon coccineum Bull., and Sphaeria lateritia DC.

Etymology

The genus name hypoxylon comes from hypo- meaning beneath (or less than) and -xylon meaning wood. The specific epithet fragiforme comes from the Latin name for a strawberry, fragaria, and refers to the strawberry-like shape and pimply surface texture of the stromata.

Identification guide

	Description Stroma (plural stromata) - the name given to the communal fruitbody of an ascomycete fungi - hemispherical to nearly globose, 2 to 9mm in diameter and 2-7mm in height; initially greyish-white, becoming salmon pink and then rusty brown to mid brown at maturity before blackening when old; the surface is minutely bumpy (pimple-dotted) at maturity. The bumps are the openings of the ascospore-forming perithecia embedded in the surface. The infertile interior flesh is hard and black.
	Spores Elongated ellipsoidal or allantoid (bean shaped), smooth, 10-15 x 4.8-6.8µm. Spore print Very dark brown. Asci Typically 135-180 x 7-10µm, with eight spores per ascus; tips amyloid.
Odour/taste	Not distinctive.
Habitat & Ecological role	Saprobic, on fallen branches and rotting stumps of broad-leaf trees, mainly Beeches.
Season	Throughout the year, but producing ascospores in autumn and early winter.
Similar species	Hypoxylon howeianum is similar but has smaller ascospores (7-9 x 3.5-5µm).

Reference Sources

Fascinated by Fungi, Pat O'Reilly 2016.

Dennis, R.W.G. (1981). British Ascomycetes; Lubrecht & Cramer; ISBN: 3768205525.

Breitenbach, J. & Kränzlin, F. (1984). Fungi of Switzerland. Volume 1: Ascomycetes. Verlag Mykologia: Luzern, Switzerland.

Medardi, G. (2006). Ascomiceti d'Italia. Centro Studi Micologici: Trento.

Dictionary of the Fungi; Paul M. Kirk, Paul F. Cannon, David W. Minter and J. A. Stalpers; CABI, 2008.

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