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Xylaria polymorpha

Xylaria polymorpha
Xylaria polymorpha, commonly called Dead Man's Fingers, appears throughout the year at the base of beechwood stumps and occasionally on other buried hardwoods.

Identification guide

Description

Dead Man's Fingers is a very apt name for this morbid-looking species, which usually arises in tufts of three to six fingers, which are usually bent and give the impression of arthritic black knuckles. The surface is slightly granulated.

As seen here, inside the fruitbody the flesh is white; it is quite hard.

Dimensions

Individual fingers vary from 1 to 3 cm in diameter and are usually between 3 and 8 cm long.

Spore print

Black.

Odour/taste

Not distinctive.

Habitat

On or near to the stumps of dead beech trees and, less frequently, other broad-leaf tree stumps.

Season

Mainly summer and autumn, but some fruit bodies can usually be found throughout the year.

Occurrence

Frequent.

Similar species

  1. Xylaria longipes is similar but rather smaller and less robust; it occurs on the stumps and fallen branches of sycamore trees.

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