Dead Moll's Fingers - Xylaria longipes

[Fungus Ken]

There are a several images labelled in the image archive as Xylaria longipes, which mykonik has now corrected to Xylaria polymorpha.

In my time I have also seen chunky looking Xylaria hypoxylon misidentified as X. longipes.

Here are Nick's comments on one of the misidentified photos:



"No these are just Xylaria polymorpha John - 'Dead Mens Fingers', very young !! Xylaria longipes invariably produces single ascocarps and each has a lng, distinguishable stipe ! It is also, almost, restricted to growing on fallen, moss covered, branches of Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus). "

And below is a photo (once it's been approved by a moderator) that I took of Xylaria longipes last year at Strid Woods in the Yorkshire Dales last September.



Sure enough it was growing as single ascocarps, each with a distinguishable stipe, on a moss covered sycamore log.

But the clincher was the spores, which were easy to obtain, and were significantly smaller than those of Xylaria polymorpha.

Ken

PS Sorry John for picking on your photo above!

[mykonik]

Originally Posted by Fungus Ken

There are a several images labelled in the image archive as Xylaria longipes, which mykonik has now corrected to Xylaria polymorpha.

In my time I have also seen chunky looking Xylaria hypoxylon misidentified as X. longipes.

Here are Nick's comments on one of the misidentified photos:



"No these are just Xylaria polymorpha John - 'Dead Mens Fingers', very young !! Xylaria longipes invariably produces single ascocarps and each has a lng, distinguishable stipe ! It is also, almost, restricted to growing on fallen, moss covered, branches of Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus). "

And below is a photo (once it's been approved by a moderator) that I took of Xylaria longipes last year at Strid Woods in the Yorkshire Dales last September.



Sure enough it was growing as single ascocarps, each with a distinguishable stipe, on a moss covered sycamore log.

But the clincher was the spores, which were easy to obtain, and were significantly smaller than those of Xylaria polymorpha.

Ken

PS Sorry John for picking on your photo above!

Yes, but we should say that, like all of Johns photos, it's another stunner !!

Nick

[FungiJohn]

Originally Posted by mykonik

Yes, but we should say that, like all of Johns photos, it's another stunner !!

Nick

Many thanks Ken and Nick I'll change the name ... Oooo I'm all embarrassed now