Mum spots 'horrifying' set of decaying 'toes' under a tree - before the bizarre story behind them is revealed
Dead Man's Fingers mushrooms are named for their terrifying appearanceCommon around the world, they grow on dead or dying hardwood treesREAD MORE: Creepy green box hidden in the Blue Mountains
Aussies were left 'creeped out' by a 'mysterious' foot growing in a woman's garden - before the fascinating truth behind it was revealed.
Bizarre images of a fungi appropriately named Dead Man's Fingers were posted on Facebook this week. The unusual Xylaria polymorpha growth is found around the world in mossy, overgrown areas.
The 'spooky' and inedible parasitic fungi has finger and toe like structures or 'stromata' which can grow up to ten centimeters tall.
They're most commonly spotted in heavily wooded areas and grow on dead or decaying hardwood trees such as Spotted Gum, Blackbutt and Victorian Ash.
Images of the macabre mushrooms have been circulating in gardening groups, much to the disgust and horror of many who hated the idea of stumbling across the odd find.
'If I saw these at night in the woods I would not be calm,' one said.
'Imagine shining your flashlight on this after hearing something outside of your tent,' added another.
Others, however, were fascinated by the 'decaying' find.
Aussies were left 'creeped out' by a 'mysterious' foot growing in a woman's garden - before the fascinating truth behind it was revealed
Xylia polymorpha aren't the only nightmare-inducing mushrooms out there.
The 'Octopus Stinkhorn' is a nightmarish mushroom featuring long red tendrils that release an oozing black coloured slime.
An Aussie mum spotted one in her backyard recently, prompting a similar reaction online.
A woman was shocked to find this stinkhorn fungus in her yard
The woman, who lives in Sydney's affluent northern beaches was shocked to find the ugly, red 'thing' in the middle of her yard.
Green-thumbed Aussies were quick to inform her that the little red, extra-terrestrial looking sprout was in fact a 'stinkhorn fungus' that spreads quickly after rain.
Stinkhorn fungus are known to 'smell like rotting flesh' and typically pop up in Sydney between February and May.
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Disturbing find in family backyard leaves Aussies horrified: 'Stuff of nightmares'
