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 | |
| 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.