--- title: "Horror mushrooms in Ukraine's forests: from \"ears\" to \"dead man's fingers\" — what is safe to eat and what not to touch" description: "Ukraine's forests feature mushrooms resembling human ears, crimson tentacles, and blackened dead man's fingers. We examine which ones are edible and which should not be foraged." date: 2026-10-16T12:36:55.448Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/unusual-mushrooms-ukraine-ear-dead-mans-fingers tags: [mushrooms, ukraine-forests, foraging, fungi, nature] author: "Alexander Buran" publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Horror mushrooms in Ukraine's forests: from "ears" to "dead man's fingers" — what is safe to eat and what not to touch ![Man in a forest pointing at unusual black and red mushrooms on a tree stump](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/16/neobychnye-griby-ukrainy-uh-i-paltsa-mertvetsa/neobychnye-griby-ukrainy-uh-i-paltsa-mertvetsa-1.webp) ## Key Points - Ukraine's forests host mushrooms with a "horrific" appearance: Auricularia, black chanterelle, lattice stinkhorns, and Xylaria - Auricularia and black chanterelle are considered edible after cooking and are valued in cooking - Lattice stinkhorns (Clathrus ruber and Clathrus archeri) are not recommended for consumption as their safety is unconfirmed - Xylaria ("dead man's fingers") should not be eaten — the fruit body is tough and woody - Experts warn: wild mushrooms must not be eaten without exact species identification Ukraine's forests hide inhabitants that could easily pass for horror movie sets. Among fallen leaves and decaying wood grow mushrooms resembling human ears, crimson tentacles, or blackened fingers protruding from a tree stump. Styler publication has gathered five unusual species with striking appearances and figured out which ones are safe to eat and which are best left untouched. ### The Wood Ear: Auricularia The "cutest" on this list is Auricularia. As blogger Yaroslav Fishchenko explains in a video published on the "Kharakternyk Show" Facebook page, the mushroom features a brown, jelly-like fruit body with wavy edges that genuinely resembles a human ear. It most commonly grows on dead elder wood, though it is sometimes found on other deciduous trees. According to the First Nature mushroom guide, Auricularia is edible after cooking: in East Asian cuisines, related species are prized for their characteristic crunchy texture in soups and other dishes. You should only forage it for consumption if you have accurately identified the species. ### The Trumpet of Death: Black Chanterelle The black chanterelle, or Craterellus cornucopioides, takes the shape of a deep funnel tapering downwards. Its color ranges from grayish-brown to nearly black, making it easy to miss against fallen leaves. At the same time, it is prized in culinary arts: according to a scientific review published in the journal Nutrients, the black chanterelle is classified as an edible species, used in sauces, dried, and added to dishes. In English, it is called the Trumpet of Death, but this name stems from its eerie appearance rather than deadly toxicity. ### Red Tentacles: Lattice Stinkhorns The lattice stinkhorn (Clathrus ruber) resembles a red cage or an extraterrestrial creature from afar. It first develops inside a white, egg-like sac before a crimson, hollow, lattice-shaped fruit body emerges. Inside the mature mushroom lies a dark, slimy mass with a pungent odor of rotting meat that attracts flies and other insects to disperse its spores. Experts note that the edibility of this species has not been properly confirmed, so the lattice stinkhorn should not be considered safe for consumption. A similar species, Clathrus archeri, also starts as a white egg from which crimson, finger-like or tentacle-like arms spread out; it is likewise not recommended for consumption since its toxicity is unconfirmed and safety is not established. ### Dead Man's Fingers: Xylaria Xylaria polymorpha grows on tree stumps, at the base of dead trees, and on rotting wood. Young fruit bodies can be light or whitish, but they darken with age to become nearly black, while their uneven, wrinkled surface resembles charred fingers — hence the eerie common name. According to the Missouri Department of Conservation and the British organization Woodland Trust, this species is not recommended for consumption: the fruit body is tough, woody, and unsuitable for standard cooking. In nature, the mushroom plays an important function by helping to break down dead wood and return nutrients to the ecosystem. ### Are they safe to eat: What experts say An unusual appearance does not automatically mean a mushroom is poisonous, but the lack of obvious danger signs does not guarantee it is safe to eat. Poison Control specialists remind us that wild mushrooms should never be consumed unless their species has been identified by a competent expert. Therefore, even the most "edible-looking" mushroom from the forest should only be foraged if you are certain of its species identification. ## Fact-Check & Sources - [Необычные грибы в Украине, похожие на человеческие уши и пальцы мертвеца: безопасны ли они для употребления](https://styler.rbc.ua/ukr/useful/nezvichni-gribi-ukrayini-shozhi-lyudski-vuha-1792153893.html) - Primary source: description of five mushroom species, their edibility, and attribution to expert sources (First Nature, Nutrients, Woodland Trust, Poison Control). The article's facts align with the base. ## FAQ ### Which of the described mushrooms can be eaten? According to the source, Auricularia and black chanterelle are considered edible after cooking. Lattice stinkhorns and Xylaria are not recommended for consumption. ### Why is the black chanterelle called the "Trumpet of Death"? The name Trumpet of Death is related to the mushroom's eerie appearance rather than deadly toxicity — according to a scientific review in Nutrients journal, it is classified as an edible species. ### Is it dangerous to forage unusual-looking mushrooms? Poison Control specialists remind us that wild mushrooms must not be consumed unless their species has been identified by a competent expert, regardless of their appearance.