Stats

Lifespan: A few days
Size: Medium
Diet: Decomposer
Biome: Tropical rainforest
Range: Worldwide tropics
Movement: Sessile
Breeding: Spores
Defense: Toxins
Status: Uncommon

About

The bridal veil stinkhorn emerges from an egg-like sac and unfurls a delicate white lace skirt (the indusium) that can reach 20 cm long, dangling from its cap. Despite the foul odour that attracts flies for spore dispersal, it is a prized edible in Chinese cuisine, sold dried as 'bamboo fungus.'

Life cycle

1.
spore
A microscopic spore drifts on air or water and germinates where moisture and substrate meet.
2.
mycelium
A thread-like mycelium spreads through the substrate, breaking it down into nutrients.
3.
fruiting body
A mature fruiting body emerges to release the next generation of spores.

Learn more

Taxonomy

Kingdom: Fungi
Phylum: Basidiomycota
Class: Agaricomycetes
Order: Phallales
Family: Phallaceae
Genus: Phallus
Species: Phallus indusiatus