They’re dead man’s fingers.
#1 What Are These?
They may look like fingers rising from the earth, but they’re actually fungus. And they’re commonly called “Dead man’s fingers.”
#2 Like Two Hands
They sometimes grow separately, and sometimes they grow in a bunch, like in this picture, resembling fingers.
#3 Habitat
Xylaria polymorpha is the botanical name, and they usually grow from the bases of rotting or injured tree stumps and decaying wood.
#4 Distribution
They are common inhabitants of forest and woodland areas. They can be found in Britain and Ireland, and also throughout mainland Europe and in many parts of North America.
#5 Related To Truffles
They belong to the family of the morel and the truffle, but these ones aren’t edible.
#6 Color
They are black or brown on the outside -occasionally shades of blue/green- and they are incredibly white on the inside.
#7 And In The End…
Towards the end of their lifespan, they look like what your dog would leave in the backyard.
