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'Octopus Stinkhorn' fungus found at Rosemoor

Posted by Rosemoor Garden on 25 Jun 2008 at 02:25 PM

One of our volunteers was working deep in the shrubbery yesterday and has discovered quite a rare fungus growing there. There are two of them growing on some mulch - and they are not a pretty sight!  Clathrus archeri (also called Anthurus archeri) is known as the Octopus Stinkhorn. It occurs only rarely in the warm southern counties of the UK, and originates from Australia and New Zealand. It starts off as a little "witch's egg" and later the egg ruptures and the enclosed 4-6 bright red arms spread outward resembling a squid. They are distantly related to the stinkhorns and produce the foul carrion-like smell in the form of a sticky slime in order to attract flies to the red, flesh-like ‘tentacles’. The flies spread the spores of the fungus thereby ensuring its survival. They usually grow on soil or grass close to trees.
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Comments

Digger said:

ughh they don't look very attractive,will they attack living plants?

on 25 Jun 2008 at 09:16 PM

Rosemoor Garden said:

Yes, they are quite strange looking! The fungus is not known to harm plants in any way and it is not necessary to destroy or dispose of it if found in your garden.  Rather, as it is quite rare, to treasure it as something rather interesting and a bit special.

on 26 Jun 2008 at 12:12 PM

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Paice's Wood Country Park - Thames Valley Bird Forum said:

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on 13 Nov 2009 at 02:54 PM

Timheadford said:

I found about ten or fifteen of these things on Dartmoor yesterday. Are they still considered quite rare? Weirdest things I've ever seen.

on 06 Nov 2011 at 08:49 AM

Timheadford said:

I found about ten or fifteen of these things on Dartmoor yesterday. Are they still considered quite rare? Weirdest things I've ever seen.

on 06 Nov 2011 at 08:52 AM