Mushrooms That Look Like Fingers are not a myth; they are real! Read ahead to learn more about these quirky specimens!
Mother Nature has numerous peculiar specimens, but these mushrooms are quite intriguing due to their finger-like appearance. In this article, weโll look closely at some of these unusual mushrooms that stand out in the botanical world with their quirky look.
Mushrooms That Look Like Fingers
1. Dead Manโs Fingers
Botanical Name โย Xylaria polymorpha
Edible Status โ Not Edible
Dead manโs fingers mushroom looks identical to fingers due to its cylindrical, upright fruiting bodies and fingernail-like tips. This mushroom also resembles a dead hand emerging from the ground, hence the name.
2. Dead Mollโs Fingers
Botanical Name โย Xylaria longipes
Edible Status โย Not Edible
A member of the Xylariaceae family, this finger-shaped fungus species can become 2.5โ6.5 cm tall and 0.5โ1.5 cm thick in ideal growing conditions. Dead Mollโs Fingers prefer to thrive on logs or sticks of dead sycamore, beech, and maple trees.
3. Devilโs Fingers
Botanical Name โย Clathrus archeri
Edible Status โย Edible
Devilโs Fingers is aptly named for its bright red finger-like protrusions, which also look similar to octopus tentacles. This rare fungus variety emits a strong, unpleasant odor similar to rotting meat that canโt go unnoticed.
4. Elegant Stinkhorn
Botanical Name โย Mutinus elegans
Edible Status โ Edible
Elegant stinkhorns are foul-smelling fungi that look similar to fingers and penises. They are available in red, pink, white, yellow, and orange shades. You can easily spot them on mulch, leaf litter, forest floor debris, flowerbeds, and lawns.
5. Poisonous Fire Coral Mushroom
Botanical Name โย Podostroma cornu-damae
Edible Status โย Highly Toxic
This fire coral mushroom stands out in its native habitat with its finger-like upright fruiting bodies. Itโs highly toxic, containing several trichothecene mycotoxins, so itโs not recommended for consumption at all.