Species details
Dead man's fingers
Xylaria polymorpha
Inedible
Photo: Елена Смирнова · CC BY 4.0 · Photo source · License
Description
A black, hard, club- to finger-shaped wood fungus often growing in tight clusters from decayed wood and resembling black fingers.
Identification features
Fruitbodies are 3–8 cm tall and 1–3 cm wide, club-shaped or irregularly finger-like, greyish at first then black and rough. The flesh is white and very hard.
Identification checklist
Check the thick black finger-like fruitbodies, growth from decayed wood and the white, very hard interior.
Detailed features
- Flesh
- The flesh is white and very hard.
Habitat
Grows on decaying stumps, logs and buried hardwood from spring to autumn; old fruitbodies may persist into winter.
Fruiting period
April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November
Ecology
- Substrate
- Stumps, Buried wood
- Notes
- Grows on decaying stumps, logs and buried hardwood from spring to autumn; old fruitbodies may persist into winter.
How to separate similar species
Xylaria hypoxylon is usually much thinner and often branched, with whitish tips when young.