Xylaria polymorpha

The shape of the fruiting bodies and formation of distinctive clumps on root swellings or on thicker roots contributed to the fungus’ common name “dead man’s fingers”. The term “xylaria”, freely translated, means “growing on wood”, while “polymorpha” stands for “many shapes”. In spring the entire face of the pileus is white due to formation of conidia, while in summer tiny perithecia chambers with asci and ascospores are coated with a black cover. The stroma flesh is white. The influence of mycelium results in the so-called black root rot after consumption of glucane in wood, leaving a residue of lignin and cellulose.