Species details
Hairy earthtongue
Trichoglossum hirsutum
Inedible
Photo: Holger Krisp · CC BY 3.0 · Photo source · License
Description
A black upright earthtongue with a distinctly hairy to velvety surface.
Identification features
Fruitbody about 1.5–9 cm tall, dark brown to black, with a flattened club- or tongue-shaped head and thin cylindrical stem. The surface is visibly finely hairy to velvety.
Identification checklist
Check the black tongue-shaped fruitbody and especially the clearly hairy or velvety surface of both head and stem.
Size
- Stem height
- 1,5–9 cm
Habitat
Grows on unimproved grassland, grassy areas, peat moss and in woodland on decaying wood or leaves, mainly from summer to autumn; rare.
Fruiting period
March, April, June, July, August, September, October, November
Ecology
- Substrate
- Grassland, Wood
- Notes
- Grows on unimproved grassland, grassy areas, peat moss and in woodland on decaying wood or leaves, mainly from summer to autumn; rare.
How to separate similar species
Geoglossum cookeanum can be similar but lacks such pronounced stiff hairs. Difficult black earthtongues often require microscopy.
Similar species
- Common earthtongue (Geoglossum cookeanum)
- Geoglossum species
- Trichoglossum species