Fungus dead man's fingers (Xylaria polymorpha) in moss on a rotten oak stump in Alexander Park. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 4, 2017Synonyms: Hypoxylon polymorphum, Sphaeria digitata, Sphaeria polymorpha, Sphaeria spathulata, Xylaria corrugata, Xylaria fastigiata, Xylaria pachystroma, Xylaria rugosa, Xylosphaera polymorpha.
Common name: dead man's fingers.
Russian names: Ksilyariya mnogoobraznaya, Paltsy mertvetsa, Ksilariya mnogoobraznaya, Ksilyariya polimorfnaya.
Extract from Wikipedia article: Xylaria polymorpha, commonly known as dead man's fingers, is a saprobic fungus. It is a common inhabitant of forest and woodland areas, usually growing from the bases of rotting or injured tree stumps and decaying wood. It has also been known to colonize substrates like woody legume pods, petioles, and herbaceous stems. It is characterized by its elongated upright, clavate, or strap-like stromata poking up through the ground, much like fingers. The genus Xylaria contains about 100 species of cosmopolitan fungi. Polymorpha means "many forms". As its name suggests, it has a very variable but often club-shaped fruiting body (stroma) resembling burned wood.
Xylaria polymorpha is a species of fungus that belongs to the family Xylariaceae. It is commonly found in north-western Russia, including St. Petersburg and Leningrad Oblast, typically growing on decaying wood, stumps, and other plant debris. The fungus produces black, club-shaped fruiting bodies with a white or yellowish interior, and can be found in a variety of habitats, including forests, parks, and gardens. In the region, it is often encountered during summer and autumn months, particularly in areas with rich organic matter and high humidity.
Fungus dead man's fingers (Xylaria polymorpha) in moss on a rotten oak stump in Alexander Park. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 4, 2017
Saprobic fungus dead man's fingers (Xylaria polymorpha) at the base of a rotten oak stump in Alexander Park. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 4, 2017
Saprobic fungus dead man's fingers (Xylaria polymorpha) on a rotten oak stump in Alexander Park. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 4, 2017
Group of dead man's fingers (Xylaria polymorpha mushrooms) near a rotten oak stump in Alexander Park. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 4, 2017
Dissected mushrooms dead man's fingers (Xylaria polymorpha) near a rotten oak stump in Alexander Park. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 4, 2017
Dissected mushrooms dead man's fingers (Xylaria polymorpha) on moss near a rotten oak stump in Alexander Park. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 4, 2017
Close up of a mushroom dead man's fingers (Xylaria polymorpha) in Alexander Park. Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 4, 2017
Group of dead man's fingers (Xylaria polymorpha mushrooms) near a rotten oak stump in Alexander Park in Pushkin, former Tsarskoe Selo, near Saint Petersburg. Russia, September 7, 2017
Doroga Na Aleksandrovku, Sankt-Peterburg, Russia
Dead man's fingers (Xylaria polymorpha mushrooms) near a rotten oak stump in Alexander Park in Pushkin, former Tsarskoe Selo, near Saint Petersburg. Russia, September 7, 2017Doroga Na Aleksandrovku, Sankt-Peterburg, Russia
Mushrooms dead man's fingers (Xylaria polymorpha) on old low linden stump south-west from Arsenal in Alexander Park in Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg. Russia, May 18, 2021Malyy Lamskiy Most, Ланской пруд Александровском парке, Sankt-Peterburg, Russia, 196603
Close-up of mushrooms dead man's fingers (Xylaria polymorpha) on old low linden stump near Small Lamsky Bridge in Alexander Park in Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo) near Saint Petersburg. Russia, May 18, 2021Malyy Lamskiy Most, Ланской пруд Александровском парке, Sankt-Peterburg, Russia, 196603Observations of Xylaria polymorpha in Leningrad Oblast and north-western Russia show that the fungus grows on rotten oak stumps, often in moss, in Alexander Park, Pushkin, near Saint Petersburg. The fungus was found at the base of stumps, as well as on the stumps themselves, and was observed in groups or individually. Dissections of the mushrooms revealed their internal structure. The fungus was also found on old linden stumps, indicating its ability to grow on different types of decaying wood. Observations were made on multiple dates, including September 4, 2017, September 7, 2017, and May 18, 2021, suggesting that the fungus is present in the area throughout the growing season. Close-up photos provided detailed views of the mushrooms' morphology.
Russian web-forums Planeta Gribov, V Kontakte, and Griby Sredney Polosy for learning names of local mushrooms.
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