A rare type of fungus has been found in Bangor.
Lisa Toth, a ‘Garden Escapers’ project officer with North Wales Wildlife Trust, found the rare specimen in Bangor, known as Devil’s fingers fungus.
The smelly, strange looking fungus is also referred to as octopus stinkhorn or octopus fungus. Its eye-catching red tentacles splay out like a starfish.
The species is from the southern hemisphere and was first discovered in Britain in 1914. The devil’s fingers fungus hatches from a slimy, gelatinous ‘egg’. As it grows, the tentacle-like arms start to protrude. The bright red colour of this fungus makes it easy to spot although it is fairly rare in the UK. Related to the stinkhorns it has a strong and unpleasant smell.
About 5cm high, tentacles can be up to 7cm long. Usually there are at least 3 or 4 tentacles. Often found amongst leaf litter under trees or in parks and gardens.
Did you know?
This fungus smells like rotting flesh which attract insects to arms where the spores are found. The spores are then spread by the visiting insects.
Despite the appearance and smell, Devil’s Fingers are not toxic and are quite harmless, but their unpleasant texture and odour renders them largely inedible.
Photo: Lisa Toth
