Smooth Cage Stinkhorn Fungus
Ileodictyon gracile
-37.8972, 145.3
Field Notes
Description:
Partially unearthed "eggs" were spotted amongst woodchip mulch. The peridium has an outer layer which was flaky, it covered a much firmer layer which appeared gelatinous.
When the egg was gently nudged, a white fragile lattice-shaped structure slowly unfurled. It can be best described as a soccer ball with panels removed. The lattice was wider where the pieces joined.
The inner sides of the lattice showed a slimy olive-brown spore bearing substance which is the gleba.
There were up to a dozen of these fruiting bodies in various stages of maturation.
Habitat:
These were seen in wood chip mulch along the periphery of the oval in a local park . The logs nearby were smashed and the ground was disturbed so most of the fungi were trodden on or destroyed.
Notes:
This was an exciting find for us but not a good specimen. We'll be going back to see if we can find a lattice basket intact. The stinkhorns are an interesting family of fungi.
The other species I.cibarium has a crinkled firmer lattice and is less common. Here's a good spotting from another observer <br> https://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/7114482 <br>
Family: Phallaceae <br> http://australianfungi.blogspot.com/2009/06/32-ileodictyon-gracile.html
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