Beech Woodwart

Beech Woodwart - Hypoxylon fragiforme

Description

The rounded stroma or communal fruitbodies on the bark of Beech trees are initially pinkish-brown or orange-brown; later becoming darker brown then black.  The surface is bumpy with the developing perithecia inside the stroma, and there are small small ostioles on the surface through which the spores are eventually ejected. 

Similar Species

The Beech Barkspot Diatrype disciformis has small erumpent black warts on beech; these have tiny pores but do not have a bumpy surface.  Similar woodwarts or barkspots are found on other deciduous trees. 

Identification difficulty

host

Recording advice

Photograph in its habitat; not substrate and associated tree species

Habitat

On the dead wood of Beech.

When to see it

All year round.

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Additional images

No additional images available for this species.

All NatureSpot records