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Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsAny gardeners here ever seen this ghastly thing????
Last edited Sun Nov 12, 2017, 10:18 PM - Edit history (1)
Just recently found out what it is.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clathrus_ruber
The Velveteen Ocelot
(116,004 posts)ailsagirl
(22,911 posts)Flies are attracted to its pungent smell
shudder
Wwcd
(6,288 posts)SNIP
The egg has a delicate, leathery outer membrane enclosing the compressed lattice that surrounds a layer of olive-green spore-bearing slime called the gleba, which contains high levels of calcium that help protect the fruit body during development.
As the egg ruptures and the fruit body expands, the gleba is carried upward on the inner surfaces of the spongy lattice, and the egg membrane remains as a volva around the base of the structure.
The fruit body can reach heights of up to 20 cm (7.9 in).
The color of the fruit body, which can range from pink to orange to red, results primarily from the carotenoid pigments lycopene and beta-carotene.
The gleba has a fetid odor, somewhat like rotting meat, which attracts flies and other insects to help disperse its spores.
Skittles
(153,312 posts)LEMME AT THEM!!!
ailsagirl
(22,911 posts)Arkansas Granny
(31,543 posts)ret5hd
(20,564 posts)jpak
(41,761 posts)Lochloosa
(16,084 posts)Usually in the "egg" stage but not always.
Binkie The Clown
(7,911 posts)ailsagirl
(22,911 posts)Less so, now that I know what it is
OregonBlue
(7,756 posts)Now I'm going to go read all about them. Did it show up in your garden?
ailsagirl
(22,911 posts)I guess they come in a variety of sizes-- what I've seen so far are about the size of a plum (I'm in the Bay Area)
I just read this:
Stinkhorns have a worldwide distribution, but are especially prevalent in tropical regions.
OregonBlue
(7,756 posts)not only stink but they can get HUGE. Thanks for teaching us something all new today
ailsagirl
(22,911 posts)Have a great week!!