Australians were left “scared” by a “mysterious” foot growing in a woman’s garden, before the fascinating truth behind it was revealed.
Bizarre images of a mushroom appropriately named Dead Man’s Fingers were posted on Facebook this week. The unusual growth of Xylaria polymorpha is found throughout the world in mossy and overgrown areas.
The “creepy” and inedible parasitic mushrooms have finger- and toe-like structures or “stromata” that can grow up to four inches tall.
They are most commonly seen in heavily wooded areas and grow on dead or decaying timber trees, such as Spotted Gum, Blackbutt and Victorian Ash.
Images of ghoulish mushrooms have been circulating in gardening groups, to the disgust and horror of many who hated the idea of stumbling upon some strange find.
“If I saw them at night in the forest, I wouldn’t be calm,” said one.
“Imagine shining your flashlight on this after hearing something outside your tent,” another added.
Others, however, were fascinated by the “decomposing” find.
Australians were left “scared” by a “mysterious” foot growing in a woman’s garden, before the fascinating truth behind it was revealed.
Xylia polymorpha is not the only mushroom that induces nightmares.
‘Octopus Stinkhorn’ is a nightmarish fungus that features long red tendrils that release oozing black slime.
An Australian mother spotted one in her backyard recently, sparking a similar reaction online.
A woman was surprised to find this stinky fungus in her garden.
The woman, who lives on Sydney’s affluent northern beaches, was shocked to find the ugly red “thing” in the middle of her garden.
Australians with green thumbs were quick to inform him that the small, alien-looking red sprout was actually a “stinking fungus” that spreads quickly after rain.
Stinkhorn mushrooms are known to “smell like rotting meat” and typically appear in Sydney between February and May.