Candlesnuff fungus Xylaria hypoxylon looks like a snuffed-out candlewick and may grow up to 60mm in height. The white powdery substance seen on the upper branches is made up of asexual spores. Sexual spores are produced later in the season, which gives the fungus two chances to reproduce. It is very common throughout Britain growing through moss and on dead wood, especially on rotting stumps of broadleaved trees. This fungus has powerful anti-viral medicinal properties.
Alex Hyde is one of Britain’s leading exponents of close-up nature photography. His award-winning images portray a hidden world of extraordinary beauty. “To this day I delight in revealing tiny details of subjects that would be missed by the naked eye. Many of my pictures involve photographing moving subjects smaller than a grain of rice. Nature provides me with an endless array of fascinating subjects.”
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