Family: Phallaceae

Scientific name: Aseroe rubra

Common Name: Starfish Fungus

Distribution: Fairly common in SE QLD, NSW, eastern VIC and Tasmania. Found in woodchips, mulch, subalpine, alpine woodland, grassland and open forest.

General Information: Emerges from an egg like structure, growing a stalk approx. 10 cm in length with up to 8 red/pink arms forming star or anemone like appearance. The slime carries spores that are carried by organisms eg: flies that are attracted to the scent.

Specimen: 13.3.09 Walton Bridge Reserve, The Gap, Brisbane. This specimen was older with gleba (brown slime partially removed by numerous flies visiting).

Source: Fuhrer, B 2005, A Field Guide To Australian Fungi, Bloomings Books, Melbourne.

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