Mushroomcore, a Facebook group with nearly 30,000 members, is a hub for nature enthusiasts who share their love for fungi. Recently, a member, Regan Daniels from North Carolina, shared photos that puzzled many. The images showed what looked like a severed body part, akin to a Halloween decoration. Daniels confirmed it was real and found in Western North Carolina. The mysterious fungus is called Dead Man’s Fingers, known for its eerie appearance.

Dead Man’s Fingers often grow at the base of beechwood stumps and occasionally on other buried hardwoods. They cluster in groups of three to six fingers, resembling gnarled, arthritic black knuckles. These structures consist of white infertile finger-like parts with a black exterior where spores are produced. These “flask fungi” are elusive in dark woodlands and are found in Britain, Ireland, mainland Europe, and parts of North America. However, they aren’t edible.

Despite their unsettling appearance, Dead Man’s Fingers are a natural wonder for those who appreciate the mysteries of the natural world.