The Strange Fungus Known as Dead Man’s Fingers
Imagine walking through the forest and spotting something that looks like a hand reaching out of the soil. At first glance, it might seem alarming, almost like part of a horror movie scene.
What you’ve actually stumbled upon is Xylaria polymorpha, better known as Dead Man’s Fingers. This fungus has an uncanny look—black, knotted shapes that closely resemble human fingers pushing up from the ground.
These growths typically appear near old hardwood stumps or rotting roots. They rise in clusters, sometimes with rough, swollen tips that make the resemblance even more unsettling.