Are these Dead Man's Fingers?

Yashca · #1 (**permalink**) 01-01-2009, 07:58 PM

I saw these today and thought they might be Dead Man's Fingers, but they seemed shorter and thinner than the ones I'd seen before, are they?

KeenTeen17 · #2 (**permalink**) 01-01-2009, 08:00 PM

I think those are dead molls fingers - xylaria longipes. they are usually thinner and shorter than dead mans fingers as you say

leifus · #3 (**permalink**) 01-01-2009, 08:02 PM

Xylaria longipes

NickCantle · #4 (**permalink**) 01-01-2009, 08:05 PM

For some reason I am leaning towards the other option, Xylaria polymorpha. X. Longipes is very slender indeed and has a less irregular structure whereas these specimens are quite lumpy and large in places.

Though looking again, I can see why you'd suggest X. longipes (I think you're right) I'll sit on the fence for this one

KeenTeen17 · #5 (**permalink**) 01-01-2009, 08:07 PM

you have a point. I heard xylarias are confirmed by microscopy however one I saw and was IDed on WAB as X. longipes looked very similar to this with the very thin bottom and then got fatter as it got towards the top.

Yashca · #6 (**permalink**) 01-01-2009, 08:11 PM

Does this help?

NickCantle · #7 (**permalink**) 01-01-2009, 08:11 PM

Well these two species are often confused it seems. People see a thin one and assume it's X. longipes, and people see a chunky one and think it's X. polymorpha. I would presume in both cases it's more likely to be X. polymorpha. The same rule applies with the Xylaria as it does with any other fungi- the rule of atypical specimens!

Yashca · #8 (**permalink**) 01-01-2009, 08:12 PM

Does this help?

NickCantle · #9 (**permalink**) 01-01-2009, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yashca

Does this help?

Makes me think more X. longipes. I did initially think "But they're smaller, so they may not be very far in terms of development" but then I wised up and realised that all of the immature X. polymorpha I've ever seen are fat chunky things!