Anthurus archeri (Berk.) Fischer

Image © Clive Shirley Reproduced by permission

This distinctive red fungus is most often found in alpine and sub alpine areas, and occasionally in garden beds mulched with wood shavings or chips. When mature, it gives off a strong odour of rotting flesh which attracts flies. The fruit-body consists of 4-6 bright red arms with dark green, slimy spore mass on inner surface extending down into hollow stem. The species can be confused with Colus hirudinosus, which also has 4-8 reddish arms and a pale short base emerging from an "egg". However the arms are generally joined at the apex or form a simple open lattice. Common Name: None

• Fruiting body
  Develops underground and pushes up to the surface as small, smooth, white to pale brown, "egg" 25-40 mm tall, with white strands at the base. At maturity the egg ruptures at the top and 4-6 bright red arms, 40-95 mm long, extend upwards, at first remaining fused at the tips but soon spreading outward and drooping. Inner surface pitted.

• Fertile surface
  On the pitted upper surface of the arms and down into the stem, dark green, slimy.

• Stipe/stem
  Variable, short, usually flaring, hollow 30-50 mm long, 10-25 mm diameter, whitish to pale pink, spongy consistency, remaining in the "egg".

• Volva
  

• Ring
  

• Smell
  Strong carrion.

• Spores
  Spore print greenish.

• Habitat
  On soil, decaying woodchips or stumps often in alpine and sub alpine areas, occasionally in garden beds mulched with wood shavings or chips. Found in New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania.

• Comments
  Can be confused with Colus hirudinosus, which also has 4-8 reddish arms and a pale short base emerging from an "egg". However the arms are generally joined at the apex or form a simple open lattice.

• References
  Fuhrer, B. A Field Companion to Australian Fungi p. 102

Distribution map

Last modified on 26 June 2002

Maintained by Gudrun Arnold

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