Aseroe rubra Labill. : Fr. Syst. Mycol. 2: 285 (1822)

Image © Taylor Lockwood Reproduced by permission

Literally: disgusting, red. (Rubra [L.] - red.) Starfish fungus; sea anemone fungus. This fungus is like a large, land, sea anemone with outstretched red tentacles and an evil-smelling brown-green slime in the centre. The fruiting body emerges from an "egg". Common Name: Anemone Fungus

• Pileus
  Central disc between the expanded arms, covered with mucilage containing spore mass. Colour variously yellow, orange or white.

• Lamellae
  None.

• Stipe
  Stipe white, spongy, up to 8 cm long, emerging from a white, gelatinous base which may stain faintly blue on handling. Summit slightly flattened, expanding into several pairs of bright red arms.

• Smell
  Unpleasant, as of rotting meat.

• Spores
  5.5-6.5 x 2-3 µm cylindrical, smooth, nonamyloid. Spore print white.

• Habitat
  On rich humic soils in sheltered spots. In Victoria Aseroe rubra occurs almost exclusively in alpine areas, but in Tasmania it has been recorded from lowland sites close to the northern coast.

• Comments
  With its bright red arms and strong smell, Aseroe rubra is one of the most distinctive southern Australian species.

Distribution map

Last modified on 26 June 2002

Maintained by Gudrun Arnold

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