How ‘Dead Man’s Fingers’ play a major role in Earth’s ecosystems – Times of India
The environment is full of surprises and exceptionally eerie phenomena, the 'dead man's fingers' is a prime example. (Credits: iStock) The environment is full of surprises and exceptionally eerie phenomena, the 'dead man's fingers' is a prime example. Emerging from the ground these black, finger-like projections, often resemble zombies' body parts. They play a crucial role in forest ecosystems. Found across the United States, this mould thrives on dead or decaying trees and contributes to the soil's decomposition process and nutrient cycling.Nature’s decomposerPeculiar and somewhat eerie-looking, black, finger-like structures protrude from the ground in the shadowy corners of forests, where decaying wood and fallen trees lie. These are the fruiting bodies of Xylaria polymorpha, commonly kn...