Xylaria hypoxylon
| Xylaria hypoxylon | |
|---|---|
| 220px | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Division: | |
| Class: | |
| Order: | |
| Family: | |
| Genus: | |
| Species: |
X. hypoxylon
|
| Binomial name | |
| Xylaria hypoxylon |
|
| Synonyms | |
Lua error in Module:Taxonbar/candidate at line 22: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
Xylaria hypoxylon is a species of fungus in the genus Xylaria. It is known by a variety of common names, such as the candlestick fungus, the candlesnuff fungus, carbon antlers,[1] or the stag's horn fungus.[2] The fruit bodies, characterized by erect, elongated black branches with whitened tips, typically grow in clusters on decaying hardwood. The fungus can cause a root rot in hawthorn and gooseberry plants.[3]
Contents
Taxonomy
Xylaria hypoxylon was first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1745,[4] and then later mentioned by him in his Species Plantarum II.[5]
The specific epithet is derived from the Greek words hypo meaning "below", and xylon, meaning "wood".
Description
Fruit bodies (ascocarps) are cylindrical or flattened with dimensions of 3–8 centimetres (1.2–3.1 in) tall × 2–8 mm thick.[1] The erect ascocarps are often twisted or bent, and typically sparsely branched, often in a shape resembling a stag's antlers. Specimens found earlier in the season, in spring, may be covered completely in asexual spores (conidia), which manifests itself as a white to grayish powdery deposit. Later in the season, mature ascocarps are charcoal-black, and have minute pimple-like bumps called perithecia on the surface. These are minute rounded spore bearing structures with tiny holes, or ostioles, for the release of sexual spores (ascospores). The perithecia are embedded in the flesh of the ascocarp, the stroma, which is tough, elastic, and white. Within the perithecia, the asci are 100 × 8 µm.[6]
Ascospores are kidney-shaped, black, and smooth, with dimensions of 10–14 × 4–6 µm.[7] The asexual spores (mitospores) are ellipsoid in shape, smooth, and hyaline.[8]
Edibility
Although not poisonous, the small size and tough texture of this fungus deter consumption.
Similar species
Xylaria polymorpha is thicker and not as branched as X. hypoxylon.
Bioactive compounds
A variety of bioactive compounds have been identified in this fungus. The compounds xylarial A and B both have moderate cytotoxic activity against the human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line Hep G2.[9] The pyrone derivative compounds named xylarone and 8,9-dehydroxylarone also have cytotoxic activity.[10] Several cytochalasins, compounds that bind to actin in muscle tissue, have been found in the fungus.[11] X. hypoxylon also contains a carbohydrate-binding protein, a lectin, with a unique sugar specificity, and which has potent anti-tumor effects in various tumor cell lines.[12]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Linnaeus C. (1745). Flora svecica [suecica] exhibens plantas per regnum Sueciae crescentes. Vol. 2. Stockholm: Salvii.
- ↑ Linnaeus C. (1753). Species Plantarum, exhibentes plantas rites cognitus ad genera relatas cum differentiis specificis, nominibus trivialibus, synonymis selectis, locis natalibus, secundum systema sexuale digestas. Vol. II. Stockholm: Salvii.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Gu W, Ding H. (2008). "Two new tetralone derivatives from the culture of Xylaria hypoxylon AT-028." Chinese Chemical Letters 19(11): 1323–26.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Espada A, Rivera Sagredo A, de la Fuente JM, Hueso Rodriguez JA, Elson SW. (1997). "New cytochalasins from the fungus Xylaria hypoxylon." Tetrahedron 53(18): 6485–92.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Xylaria hypoxylon. |
- Xylaria hypoxylon in Index Fungorum
- Fungi on Wood Description and photos
