Introduction to Fungi, Third Edition

592 HOMOBASIDIOMYCETES: GASTEROMYCETES
Fig 20.9 Phallus impudicus. (a) L.S.‘egg’ showing the
unexpanded stipe. (b) Basidia.
dried form; sensibly, the volva and glebal mass are
removed prior to marketing (Chang & Miles,
2004). Apparently, the egg stage is also eaten
after it has been boiled. These species were
formerly thought to belong to a separate genus,
Dictyophora, on the basis of the presence of a veil.
However, this character is no longer considered
useful because even the common stinkhorn may
occasionally produce a short veil and is then
called P. impudicus var. togatus (see Kibby &
Bingham, 2004).
Other genera
The general form of Mutinus, the dog’s stinkhorn,
is similar to Phallus, but the gasterocarps are
smaller (Fig. 20.7d). The upper part of the stipe is
orange in colour, and the smell is less overpowering.
The receptacle bearing the glebal mass
is not reticulate.
Clathrus ruber (Plate 11e) forms conspicuous,
red cage-like gasterocarps in warm, dry
habitats in the Mediterranean, occasionally
extending to temperate climates. Other Clathrus
spp. are tropical. Clathrus archeri, the squid
fungus, was probably introduced to Europe
from Australia some 100 years ago
(Ramsbottom, 1953) and is now established
in many localities. An even more bizarre
Australian species is Aseroe rubra, the starfish
fungus (Plate 11f).