Elder Whitewash - Xylodon sambuci
Hyphodontia sambuci
A chalky white or greyish resupinate corticoid, forming large irregular diffuse patches on dead wood that is still attached to the tree.
Identification of these white resupinate fungi is extremely difficult, and involves microscopic examination; there are a lot of similar species. It is usually assumed that the speces found on Elder is Elder Whitewash.
Photograph in its habitat; ensure you identify the host and substrate, or that it is clearly identifiable from your photo. If the host species is not clear; it must be verified by examination of a specimen by an expert before submission to NatureSpot.
Dead, deciduous wood, typically associated with dead standing de-barked branches of Elder
All year round.
Widespread and fairly frequent in Britain.
Fairly frequent in Leicestershire and Rutland.
Leicestershire & Rutland Map
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MAP KEY:
Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020
UK Map
Species profile
- Common names
- Elder Whitewash
- Species group:
- fungus
- Kingdom:
- Fungi
- Order:
- Hymenochaetales
- Family:
- Schizoporaceae
- Records on NatureSpot:
- 82
- First record:
- 17/11/2011 (Nicholls, David)
- Last record:
- 05/03/2025 (Graves, Hazel)
Total records by month
% of records within its species group
10km squares with records
The latest images and records displayed below include those awaiting verification checks so we cannot guarantee that every identification is correct. Once accepted, the record displays a green tick.
In the Latest Records section, click on the header to sort A-Z, and again to sort Z-A. Use the header boxes to filter the list.











