Stinky!

Ileodictyon cibarium (basket fungus) is native to New Zealand. Apparently it grows all year round, though I've only ever seen it in autumn.  

It is commonly known as the basket fungus because of the look of the fruiting bodies that are shaped like a round or oval cage structure (5-25 cm across) with he look of woven branches.  Once they're open they only hold there shape for about 24 hours.

Before they 'open' they are sort of egg shaped and a bit like a puffball. They are edible but the mature fruiting body stinks and is covered with a brown spore slime on the inside. 


I was told earlier this week where I could find some in Temuka so I went looking this afternoon.  I have driven past them many times before and never even noticed them - if I did I probably only thought they were screwed up paper on the side of the road. 


There were dozens of collapsed ones in the area, so they've obviously been fruiting there all season.  Now that I know they're there they'll be easy to spot in future.  Next time I go looking for them I'll take a groundsheet so I can get down at their level.  That'll be typical of me - the local high school principal lying on the verge of the main highway with her nose in stinking fungi!