Candlesnuff Fungus - Xylaria hypoxylon

This white or greyish fungus is usually between 2 and 5 cm high, and soon becomes flattened and antler like in appearance, the upper branches powdered white most of the time. It goes on fruiting on stumps and fallen branches through late autumn and winter with white spores, then in spring it loses the white tips and sends out a different form of black spore for a few weeks.

On dead wood

All year round

Common and widespread in Britain

Very common in Leicestershire and Rutland.