Dead Moll's Fingers
Xylaria longipes
Identification of Xylaria longipes (Dead Moll's Fingers)
1 / 1
Key Features
- Slender
- whip-like fruiting body
- Dark
- tough
- woody base
- Pale gray to whitish fertile tip
- Grows directly on decaying hardwood
- Unbranched or minimally branched structure
Color:
Black base, pale gray/white tips
Smell:
No distinctive smell
Growth Pattern:
Clustered
Environment:
Wood
Habitat & Distribution
Habitat:
Decaying hardwood logs or branches in forests
Distribution:
Widespread in temperate regions globally
Seasonality:
Year-round, especially during damp periods
Economic Value
Market Demand:
None - inedible
Price Range:
N/A
Commercial Use:
None
Similar Species
Stag's Horn Fungus
Xylaria hypoxylon
Key Differences:
- Often distinctly branched or antler-like
- Tips typically covered in white, powdery conidia
Dead Man's Fingers
Xylaria polymorpha
Key Differences:
- Much thicker and club-like, resembling human fingers
- Less slender and whip-like than X. longipes
Recommended Action
Do not consume. Document and observe the specimen.