Scientific name: Hypoxylon fragiforme (Pers.) J.
Kickx
Derivation of name: Fragiforme means "strawberrylike"
in reference to the appearance of this fungus.
Synonyms: Sphaeria fragiformis Pers.
Common name(s): Red cushion hypoxylon.
Phylum: Ascomycota
Order: Xylariales
Family: Hypoxylaceae
Occurrence on wood substrate: Saprobic; in clusters
typically
on
the bark of dead beech (Fagus) trees; July
through November, overwinters.
Dimensions: Fruit bodies are 3-16 mm wide and nearly
globose.
Description: Fruit bodies are grayish-white at first,
becoming salmon-pink and then brick-red at maturity and
finally brownish-black when overmature. The surface is
minutely bumpy (pimple-dotted) at maturity. The bumps
are the openings of
ascospore-forming structures called
perithecia embedded just below the surface. The interior
flesh is black and hard.
Edibility: Inedible.
Comments: Hypoxylon fragiforme may be confused with
Hypoxylon howeianum, a species typically growing on trees
other
than beech. However, the two species may occur
together on beech and certainty of identification will require
ascospore measurements.
![](../images/H%20fragiforme%20habit%20on%20leaf%20GE.jpg)
Figure 1. Fruit bodies of Hypoxylon fragiforme on a dead
beech (Fagus grandifolia) branch. Note the beech leaf
under the branch.
Photo © Gary Emberger.
![](../images/H%20fragiforme%20habit%20GE.jpg)
Figure 2. Hypoxylon fragiforme on beech. The rounded
shape, red brick coloration, and occurrence on beech are
important field identification characteristics.
Photo © Gary Emberger.
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![](../images/H%20fragiforme%20habit%20JD.jpg)
Figure 3. Hypoxylon fragiforme. Photo © John Dawson.
![](../images/H%20fragiforme2574e%20DSmith.jpg)
Figure 4. Note the bumpy surface projections of the underlying
perithecia. Photo © Dianna Smith.
![](../images/H%20fragiforme%20insideGE.jpg)
Figure 5. The interior is composed of black, hard flesh. The
perithecia are just below the surface. Photo © Gary
Emberger.
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