Dead Man's Fingers
Xylaria polymorpha
Family: XylariaceaeNative: Cosmopolitan (found worldwide, especially in temperate regions)Identified: Nov 5, 2025
Dead Man's Fingers is a saprobic fungus that typically grows in clusters from the base of rotting hardwood stumps or buried wood. Its fruiting bodies are club-shaped, often irregularly lobed, and can resemble dark, decaying fingers emerging from the ground. Initially, they may have a whitish or bluish tip due to asexual spores, maturing to a hard, charcoal-black surface, often with a paler interior when cut open.
Learn more about Dead Man's Fingers in the encyclopedia →Care instructions
This is a wild fungus and is not cultivated as a garden plant. It grows naturally on decaying wood, particularly hardwoods like oak, maple, and beech, in moist, shaded environments, contributing to the decomposition process. No human care is required or typically provided.