Content
Xylaria diverse is characteristic of the forest zone of the temperate climate zone. Mushrooms belong to the Xylariaceae family. Commonly known as "dead man's fingers". In popular scientific literature, the species is also called: xylaria polymorpha, Xylaria polymorpha, Xylosphaera polymorpha, Hypoxylonpolymorphum.
Other species of the genus Xylaria are also popularly called “dead man’s fingers”; they are distinguished by microscopic data.
What do diverse xylaria look like?
Although more than one species is called “dead man’s fingers,” all mushrooms are a little similar – irregular, dark-colored oval-cylindrical processes protruding from the ground or stumps. The fruiting body of Xylaria multiforme is club-shaped or finger-shaped, approximately 3 to 9 cm high, 1-3.5 cm wide. Placed vertically in relation to the substrate. Usually takes a wide variety of shapes - branched or flattened. The apex is slightly rounded and tapered. At the beginning of growth, there is a dark skin that covers the entire fruiting body of xylaria multiforme, dusty with asexual spores and conidia, so the color is pale bluish or gray-brown. The top is lighter, almost whitish and shiny.
By summer, the mushroom becomes darker, anthracite, in color. Sometimes the pale top remains, but later it also turns completely black. The surface dries out, becomes harder, and warty protrusions form. Cracks appear at the top of the fruiting body - holes from which ripe spores emerge. From below, to the substrate, the mushroom is attached with a short, indistinct stalk.
Due to the elongated fruiting bodies, grayish in color at the beginning of growth, collected in several pieces together, the fungus xylaria multiforme received the popular name “dead man’s fingers.” By the end of summer, they become a completely unpresentable dark shade, dry out a little and from a distance look like the excrement of a small animal.
Under the hard, black, spore-bearing skin there is a white pulp that is hard and dense in consistency, with a radiate-fibrous structure. The pulp is so tough that it is compared to tree bark. The mushroom is difficult to cut with a knife.
Where do xylaria variety grow?
Xylaria diverse is distributed on all continents. Formations of wood fungus are found anywhere in the forest zone of Russia. Usually xylaria polymorpha grows in close groups, individual fruiting bodies seem to grow together, up to 10-20 pieces. The species belongs to saprophytes that grow on dead wood and feed on dead wood tissue. Even if the mushroom appears to emerge from the soil, its base is in the woody substrate that lies in the ground. Sometimes there are single fruiting bodies. Most often, “dead man's fingers” are found on the remains of deciduous trees: elm, beech, oak, birch.
But they also happen on coniferous trees. Sometimes xylaria grows on living trees - on damaged or weakened areas. Fruiting bodies are formed from the beginning of spring and last until frost. Under favorable conditions, they do not collapse during the winter. More often, growths of xylaria multiforme are found at the base of a dead tree or on stumps, lying trunks and small dead wood.
Is it possible to eat xylaria variety?
The fruiting bodies are inedible due to the rigid structure and hard consistency of the pulp. The taste of mushrooms is also not very pleasant, without aroma. At the same time, no toxic substances were found in the fruiting bodies of various species. The only reason why the mushroom is not eaten is its extreme hardness, the flesh looks like wood. Although there is information that the consistency becomes softer and more aromatic after prolonged heat treatment. Other information contradicts the claim, insisting that the smell is very unpleasant.
How to distinguish xylaria multiforme
Diverse xylaria is the most common, although there are many different similar species in its genus. The mushroom, which is most often called “dead man’s fingers” in different countries, is similar to several others:
- xylaria long-legged;
- a completely different species, Anthurus archera, from the Veselkov family, which is popularly nicknamed “the devil’s fingers.”
Lookalikes are found much less frequently than the diverse species. Xylaria longlegs has thinner fruiting bodies, and there are differences in color that are almost invisible to non-specialists. Saprophytes can only be accurately identified under a microscope. The species also grows on dead wood. It has been noted that a group of highly elongated fruiting bodies often forms on fallen sycamore branches.
The Anthurus archera mushroom is primarily found in Australia and Tasmania, but has been accidentally introduced into Europe since the early 20th century. A hundred years later it spread to Eastern European territory. It is completely different from xylaria, since its fruiting bodies are reddish in color. Perhaps the confusion arises only because of such names with a negative emotional connotation.
Medicinal properties of xylaria multiforme
Alternative medicine uses a variety of fruiting bodies for several medicinal purposes:
- as a diuretic;
- a substance that increases the amount of milk after childbirth.
Research is being conducted on the effectiveness of various types of compounds that slow down the proliferation of the immunodeficiency virus. The isolated polysaccharide also stops the growth of cancer cells.
Conclusion
Xylaria multiforme is most often found as a poorly distinguishable, fused group of fungal fruiting bodies, grayish-black in color. The mushroom is inedible only because of its hard pulp; it contains no toxic substances.In folk medicine, the pulp is dried and ground into powder for more abundant lactation in nursing mothers. It is also used as a diuretic.
