See text Xylaria is a genus of ascomycetous fungi commonly found growing on dead wood.

'Outline of Fungi and fungus-like taxa' by Wijayawardene et al. lists up to (ca.

Xylaria hypoxylon, known by the common names stag's horn and candle-snuff fungus, is the most conspicuous because of its erect, 3–7 cm tall, antler-like ascocarps (fruitbodies) which are black at the base (where the perithecia are embedded) but white and branched towards the top, where the fruiting bodies produce white conidia (asexual spores).

Xylaria polymorpha, dead man's fingers, often grows in finger-like clusters from the base of a tree or from wood just below ground level.

Xylaria longipes, known by the common name dead moll's fingers, allegedly improves the quality of the wood used in string instruments.