Clathrus archeri

Description:

Approx. 150mm tall this spectacular fungus grows out of a scaly white-cream bulbous base into a four or five armed, pink to deep red, like Tuscanny cabbage arms. It smells of rotting flesh to make itself attractive.

Habitat:

Particularly on mixed wood mulch which contains some eucalyptus.

Notes:

Also named Anthurus archeri, Lysurus archeri, Pseudocolus archeri. Also known as Octopus Stinkhorn it is indigenous to Australia and Tasmania and an introduced species in Europe and North America. Not common. They don't seem to last long when they have grown fully. Pic#2 shows what is left after a couple of days - just the red arms. This fungus is regarded as inedible although apparently the 'egg' (the base from which the red arms grow) can be eaten in desperation. 8~] An 'egg' can be seen in pic #3 probably ready to sprout some arms within a day or two.