Power to the People!

Beechmast Candlesnuff (Xylaria carpophila) is easy to overlook. The fruiting body consists of 1 mm thick black threads with white spore bearing tips. It's actually pretty common, but here's the rub - it only grows on decaying beechmast. A month ago we had no records of this species on NatureSpot, but logic dictated it must be present in VC55, so we put out a call to the faithful. And now we have have half a dozen records from different parts of the county. Power to the People! 

Beechmast Candlesnuff, Xylaria carpophila.
Nikon D7200
Tokina 100mm f/2.8
f9 1/30 ISO 400
5 image focus stack.