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.
How to separate similar species
Geoglossum cookeanum can be similar but lacks such pronounced stiff hairs. Difficult black earthtongues often require microscopy.
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
Similar species
- Common earthtongue (Geoglossum cookeanum)
- Geoglossum species
- Trichoglossum species