Xylaria polymorpha (Pers. ex Mrat) Grev.

Common name: Dead Mans Fingers (in Europe).

Description: This fungus forms club-shaped structures that are more or less cylindrical and, with a little imagination, do resemble the fingers suggested by the common name. The clubs commonly measure 38 cm long and 12 cm in diameter and are smooth and woody in texture. At first the fungus is light grey or grey-white but as it matures it becomes black.

The spores measure 2228 × 79 µm and are fusiform, smooth but with a long germination cleft, brown under the microscope, but more or less black in mass.

Substratum: Xylaria polymorpha is always found on wood, mostly old rotting logs. It is rarely solitary and is mostly found as large clusters or small troops.

Distribution: Occurs throughout Australia.

Notes: This fungus belongs to the Ascomycetes, fungi which produce their spores inside specialised cells called asci. The visible, finger-like structure, or stroma, is a specialised support for the true fruiting bodies (perithecia) which are themselves minute. If the stroma is cut vertically, the perithecia can be seen with a hand lens as tiny flasks just under the skin. An opening in the top of each of these flasks allows the spores to escape.