Beechmast Candlesnuff vs Fly Agaric

Xylaria carpophila compared with Amanita muscaria

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Beechmast Candlesnuff	Fly Agaric
Kingdom same	Fungi (Fungi)	Fungi (Fungi)
Phylum	Ascomycota (Sac Fungi)	Basidiomycota (Club Fungi)
Class	Sordariomycetes (Sordariomycetes)	Agaricomycetes (Mushrooms)
Order	Xylariales (Xylariales)	Agaricales (Gilled Mushrooms)
Family	Xylariaceae	Agaricaceae (Agarics)
Genus	Xylaria	Amanita (Amanitas)
Species	Xylaria carpophila	Amanita muscaria

Evolutionary Relationship

Beechmast Candlesnuff and Fly Agaric share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Fungi. (Fungi)

View Kingdom: Fungi

Conservation Status

Beechmast Candlesnuff

LC — Least Concern

Fly Agaric

LC — Least Concern

Trend: Stable →

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Beechmast Candlesnuff	Fly Agaric
Diet	—	Decomposer
Average Lifespan	—	1 years
Average Length	—	20 cm
Average Weight	—	100 g

Habitat & Geographic Range

Beechmast Candlesnuff

Habitat

Native to Europe and South America, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Brazil, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

Fly Agaric

Habitat

Typically found in forest floors, decomposing wood, and soil ecosystems.

Range

Widely distributed across Europe (4 countries), North America (United States), Oceania and the Pacific (New Zealand), and South America (Brazil, Chile, Colombia).

Beechmast Candlesnuff

The Beechmast Candlesnuff (Xylaria carpophila) is a species in the genus Xylaria. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Native to Europe and South America, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Fly Agaric

Among the most iconic and recognizable fungi on Earth, fly agaric mushrooms display striking red caps with white flecked warts across boreal forests of the Northern Hemisphere. Despite their fairy-tale appearance, they contain potent psychoactive compounds including muscimol and ibotenic acid and are moderately toxic. They form critical mycorrhizal symbioses with birch, pine, and spruce trees, exchanging mineral nutrients for carbon and playing essential roles in boreal forest nutrient cycling.