Hypoxylon fuscum (Pers.) Fr. - Hazel Woodwart

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

Distribution - Taxonomic History - Etymology - Identification - Reference Sources

Hypoxylon fuscum, commonly called the Hazel Woodwart, appears throughout the year but actively distributes its spores during autumn and early winter. This wood-rotting fungus is one of the pyromycetes or flask fungi.

Above: Hazel Woodwart can produce conidiaspores at any stage of its development. Here the pale colouring on the stromata surfaces is evidence of the anamorph (conidia reproduction) stage.

Distribution

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

Taxonomic history

The scientific name Sphaeria fusca was given to this ascomycetous fungus in 1794 by Christiaan Hendrick Persoon, but its currently accepted name Hypoxylon fragiforme dates from 1849, when Swedish mycologist Elias Magnus Fries transferred Hazel Woodwart to the genus Hypoxylon.

The many synonyms of Hypoxylon fusca include Sphaeria fusca Pers., Cladotrichum fuscum (Pers.) Sacc., Hypoxylon glomerulatum Bull., Sphaeria coryli DC.. & Lam., and Sphaeria tuberculosa Bolton.

Etymology

The genus name hypoxylon comes from hypo- meaning beneath (or less than) and -xylon meaning wood. The specific epithet fuscum comes from Latin and means dark or dusky.

Identification guide

	Description Stroma (plural stromata) - the name given to the communal fruitbody of an ascomycete fungi - hemispherical or hemi-ellipsoidal, 2 to 5mm in diameter and 0.5-2mm tall, often coalescing; initially creamy-white to honey-coloured, becoming dark vinaceous brown at maturity before blackening when old.
	Conidia At the anamorph (asexual reproduction) stage - especially when the stromata are just forming, but it can occur at any stage - the stromata surfaces become powdery and buff to honey-coloured as sub-spherical conidiospores 3.5-5.5 x 2-3.5µm develop on the surface.
	Ascospores Elongated ellipsoidal to fusiform with sharply rounded ends, sometimes slightly allantoid (sausage shaped to bean shaped), smooth, 11-16 x 5-8µm. Spore print Brown. Asci Typically 105-170 x 7-10µm, with eight spores per ascus; tips amyloid.
Odour/taste	Not distinctive.
Habitat & Ecological role	Saprobic, on fallen branches and dead standing broad-leaf trees, most often Hazel.
Season	Throughout the year, but producing ascospores in autumn and early winter.
Similar species	Hypoxylon fragiforme is nearly always found on dead Beech wood.

Reference Sources

Fascinated by Fungi, 2nd Edition, Pat O'Reilly 2016, reprinted by Coch-y-bonddu Books in 2022.

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.

Top of page...