Ordinary Xylaria polymorpha?

Lancashire Lad · #1 (**permalink**) 24-07-2009, 06:26 PM

Found today, growing on a fallen Fagus, are these just ordinary Xylaria polymorpha?

They seem to have the blackish colouration throughout their insides, whereas all previous ones I've found/seen have a whitish interior

Is this just a particular stage they are going through? or perhaps the dark colour is just a solid mass of spores that haven't been released

Regards,
Mike.

Chris Yeates · #2 (**permalink**) 24-07-2009, 06:35 PM

possibly just immature Mike . . . have a look at them in a month's time

Chris

FungiJohn · #3 (**permalink**) 24-07-2009, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lancashire Lad

Found today, growing on a fallen Fagus, are these just ordinary Xylaria polymorpha?

They seem to have the blackish colouration throughout their insides, whereas all previous ones I've found/seen have a whitish interior

Is this just a particular stage they are going through? or perhaps the dark colour is just a solid mass of spores that haven't been released

Regards,
Mike.

Hi Mike

It's the same Xylaria polymorpha. A fungus which disperses its spores over a long period of time ... and I mean a long time!

A young fruit body in early spring will show the typical white inner, whilst by summer / autumn it changes to brown and finally black.

John

Lancashire Lad · #4 (**permalink**) 24-07-2009, 06:50 PM

Thanks Chris & John.

These are the first fully grown ones I've seen this year, so I was thinking that they were only just beginning to show in my area.
It seems that they are possibly older than I first thought if they have already gone beyond the "white inner" stage. (I'll keep my eyes open for more, so that I can chack the general status for the ones in this area).

Regards,
Mike.