black and white

Apologies for the poor quality of this photo, but it was getting dark by the time I ventured out to wander round the woods. This fungus is said to be bioluminescent (glow in the dark) but only if its very, very dark and you have good eyes.

It's the gloriously-named Candlesnuff fungus (Xylaria hypoxylon) which grows on old wood - this was on a rotting stump. I guess you could eat it if you wanted to (it is said to have antiviral and anti-tumour properties) but most sources agree that it's "too small and too tough"