Clathrus archeri    (Berk.) Dring. 

common name(s) : Devil's Fingers, Red Tentacle Fungus 

New classification: Basidiomycota/Agaricomycotina/Agaricomycetes/Phallomycetidae/Phallales/Phallaceae  
Former classification: Basidiomycota/Homobasidiomycetes/Gasteromycetideae/Phallales/Clathraceae  

synonyms: Anthurus archeri, Anthurus aseroeformis, Anthurus muellerianus 
(unconfirmed synonyms: Anthurus aseroiformis)  

edibility : inedible

photo gallery of Clathrus archeri
photo gallery of Clathrus archeri potential confusions with Clathrus archeri toxicity of Clathrus archeri genus Clathrus  

The fruiting body is white egg shape at first, opening and expanding soon into a red starfish with 4 to 8 arms protruding from the volva, covered here and there of a slimy olive-brown substance, with a ochraceous volva at its base, attached to the substrate by mycelial strands.

The flesh is spongy; its taste is mild; the odour is fetid, or of radish or jasmine.

The fertile surface is. The spore print is greenish.

It grows on the ground, in the humus litter or grassy areas on deciduous and coniferous woods.

The fruiting period takes place from July to December.
Dimensions: width of fruiting body approximately 8 cm (between 2 and 18 cm)
  total height approximately 6 cm (between 3 and 10 cm)

Chemical tests : none.

Distinctive features : egg-shaped at first, soon breaking to reveal a red star-like fruiting body with 4-8 arms emerging from a volva; the slimy internal surface of the arms is olive-brown and develops a foul odour of rotting meat or jasmine

Clathrus archeri is quite rare and localised in the forest of Rambouillet, and is quite rare, more generally speaking .
here should be the distribution map of Clathrus archeri in the forest of Rambouillet
Above : distribution map of Clathrus archeri in the forest of Rambouillet



page updated on 14/01/18