Xylaria polymorpha - Dead Man's Fingers

Taxonomy

Class: Sordariomycetes

Order: Xylariales

Family: Xylariaceae

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

Often appearing in palmate bunches the stromata comprise white infertile finger-like forms with a black coating containing the flasks within which the asci (singular ascus) produce their spores. Known as 'flask fungi', these black compound fruitbodies can be difficult to spot in dark woodland settings.

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 that 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 3cm in diameter and are usually between 3 and 8cm 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 fruitbodies can usually be found throughout the year.
Occurrence	Frequent.
Similar species	Xylaria longipes is similar but rather smaller and less robust; it occurs on the stumps and fallen branches of sycamore trees.