While wandering a forest trail, maybe stopping to look for mushrooms or just enjoying the trees, you might suddenly see something bizarre—a cluster of black “fingers” pushing up from the soil. The twisted shapes spread like a clawed hand grasping at the ground, making you feel like you’re in a scary movie for a moment.
But what you’re seeing isn’t a hand; it’s a rare-looking fungus named Dead Man’s Fingers, or scientifically, Xylaria polymorpha. On an overcast fall day, I found a group of these eerie fungi growing on a decaying stump. Their shape shocked me at first but soon grew fascinating. Unlike the colorful mushrooms you might expect, these have a dark, shriveled look, as if burnt or aged, resembling fingers frozen in time.
These fungi thrive on dead hardwoods—they feed on old stumps and underground roots, breaking down the wood. They don’t damage living trees but help recycle wood back into the earth. Young specimens are pale and soft but turn black and hard as they mature, with white tips that look like fingernails. Usually only an inch or two tall, they grow in groups that look like a skeletal hand reaching out of the forest floor.
They aren’t poisonous, but they don’t taste good either—too woody and bitter for any meal. It’s safe to touch them, but washing hands afterward is wise, especially during spore season if you have allergies.
Found mostly from late summer through fall, these fungi can stay around even through winter’s snow. They prefer damp, shady spots and hardwood trees like oak or beech. Their strange finger-like shape helps spread spores and isn’t meant to mimic human hands. The pale tips just add to their spooky image.
Though odd-looking, Dead Man’s Fingers play a crucial role in the forest ecosystem by turning tough wood into nutrients that support new growth. So if you ever come across what looks like a ghostly hand creeping from the soil, don’t be afraid. Take a picture, learn about it, and appreciate this odd but helpful fungus named Xylaria polymorpha.
