octopus stinkhorn

plural octopus stinkhorns

1. A fungus of the genus Clathrus, especially C. archeri, featuring pink or white 'arms' and an odor similar to rotten meat.

   A native fungus, the Octopus Stinkhorn, or Devil's Fingers, still smells of rotting meat regardless of what it's called.

   2016 March 22, “Devil of a fungus in Bush Capital”, in The Canberra Times, page 8

   3 more examples

   There are many types of stinkhorn fungus, including the orange squid or octopus stinkhorn (Clathrus columnatus) that has branched fingers and secretes a brown gooey-looking substance that smells worse than it looks.

   2005 December 10, Yvonne Swanson, “Olfactory assault”, in St. Petersburg Times, St. Petersburg, Florida, page 3F

   A walker was stunned after spotting a rare smelly fungus – which is bright pink with “tentacles” and is known as “Octopus Stinkhorn”.

   2014 December 27, “Moor walker finds a ‘Octopus Stinkhorn’”, in Western Daily Press, Bristol, page 6

   Meanwhile, a rare octopus stinkhorn or devil's fingertips (Clathus archeri, below right) has popped up at RHS Garden Rosemoor in Devon.

   2019 October 20, anonymous author, “Tread softly, for you tread on my mushrooms”, in Country Life, Bath, England, page 25

   Synonyms: devil's fingers, column stinkhorn