Clathrus archeri

Clathrus archeri
Octopus stinkhorn (Clathrus archeri) with
suberumpent eggs
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Basidiomycota
Class: Agaricomycetes
Order: Phallales
Family: Phallaceae
Genus: Clathrus
Species:
C. archeri
Binomial name
Clathrus archeri
(Berk.) Dring 1980
Synonyms
  • Lysurus archeri Berk. (1859)
  • Anthurus archeri (Berk.) E.Fisch. (1886)
  • Aserophallus archeri (Berk.) Kuntze (1891)
  • Pseudocolus archeri (Berk.) Lloyd (1913)
  • Schizmaturus archeri (Berk.) Locq. (1977)
Clathrus archeri
Glebal hymenium
No distinct cap
Hymenium attachment is irregular or not applicable
Lacks a stipe
Spore print is olive-brown
Ecology is saprotrophic
Edibility is unknown

Clathrus archeri (synonyms Lysurus archeri, Anthurus archeri, Pseudocolus archeri), commonly known as octopus stinkhorn or devil's fingers, is a fungus which has a global distribution. This species was first described in 1980 in a collection from Tasmania. The young fungus erupts from a suberumpent egg by forming into four to seven elongated slender arms initially erect and attached at the top. The arms then unfold to reveal a pinkish-red interior covered with a dark-olive spore-containing gleba. In maturity it smells like putrid flesh.