Most people are familiar with the archetypal mushroom: brown or white umbrella cap with an array of gills underneath connected to the earth with a stout stem. While this describes any number of mushrooms, there are many other types of fungus that buck this trend in favor of bright colors and unusual shapes. Let’s take a look at just five of these strange and beautiful species.
1. Anemone Stinkhorn
The anemone stinkhorn (aseroe rubra) is indeed a lovely type of fungus, but its redeeming qualities begin and end with its appearance. The ‘stinkhorn’ part of its name is all too accurate — once mature, the odor emanating from the slime in its center is a dead ringer for rotting meat. The spores, or reproductive units, of the fungus are contained within this slime, so the smell is a necessary function to attract flies that will spread the spores. Anemone stinkhorns live widely throughout Australia and some Pacific islands.
2. Violet Coral
Another fungus named for its resemblance to marine life, the violet coral (clavaria zollingeri) is a soft tubular species that displays various shades of purple culminating in reddish or brownish tips. This type of fungus is often found poking through forest litter or in grasslands, deriving its nourishment from deteriorating organic matter. The violet coral lives widely throughout Australia, New Zealand, North and South America, and Asia, and rarely in Europe.
3. Bleeding Tooth
Hydnellum peckii, or bleeding tooth, is one of the most unusual types of fungus in that it is barely recognizable as a member of the kingdom at all. When young, its white, variably shaped cap bears globules of deep red fluid that certainly resemble blood. Interestingly, they have anti-coagulant properties. You may think that’s where the spores live. However, they are actually found on the underside of this fungus, surrounding little “teeth” that project from its body. Older specimens are much more ordinary, displaying shades of brown with wide caps. The bleeding tooth lives in symbiosis with several species of coniferous trees. It trades minerals and amino acids it extracts from the soil for fixed carbon from the tree.
4. Rosy Veincap
The rosy veincap also goes by the names netted rhodotus and wrinkled peach, all of which aptly describe the remarkable surface of the rhodotus palmatus. This type of fungus grows on fallen hardwood trees and stumps, preferring low-lying areas shielded from sun that flood intermittently. Despite the rubbery-looking ridges on its cap, the surface is gelatinous, and younger specimens can be “bleeding” a red to orange liquid. The rosy veincap exists throughout much of the Northern Hemisphere.
5. Veiled Lady
The veiled lady is our favorite among these beauties, simply for its exquisite structure as well as color. Another type of stinkhorn, this fungus thrives in rich, well-rotted woody substrates of forests or gardens. It is notable for its honeycomb “skirt” that extends from the underside of its cap to the ground. The spores are located on the cap within a greenish brown slime that attracts flies and insects to eat and spread them. Unlike the other types of fungus on this list, the veiled lady is edible. It is high in dietary fiber, carbohydrates, and protein. It exists in many tropical regions of the world. Additionally, it has been an element of Chinese medicine since as early as 7 AD.
Featured Image from Phoenix Han/Unsplash
