Identify round white thing??

kath · #1 (**permalink**) 22-09-2008, 03:20 PM

I have found in my garden a round white thing! (I also found one last year). It may not even be a fungus - last year i thought it was a snakes egg and nearly had a freakydeaky! Anyway just found the same again. I will describe ---

Round white leathery outer approx 6-7cm diameter
Bottom seems to have a sort of patch where you might expect there to be roots but isn't.
Part of the white outer is torn away to expose a rather clear jelly looking but firm inner.
I found it on the soil next to my fence - just sat on the surface not attached to anything.
Found in exactly same place as last years.

I thought it maybe Clathrus sp? but I don't see any pictures that show the clear inside. - It may not even be a fungus. I have pictures but not allowed to post them here.

thanks

Sickener · #2 (**permalink**) 22-09-2008, 03:23 PM

This will be very difficult for even the experienced board memebers (of which I am certainly not one!) to ID without a picture. Can you take one?

If it is appearing annually it is likely to be a fungi though.

fungi2bwith · #3 (**permalink**) 22-09-2008, 03:25 PM

Sounds like a witches egg. Which is an immature stink horn

kath · #4 (**permalink**) 22-09-2008, 03:27 PM

I do have pictures but it says above the text box that pictures have to be from wild about britain Gallery. Is that so?

Sickener · #5 (**permalink**) 22-09-2008, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kath

I do have pictures but it says above the text box that pictures have to be from wild about britain Gallery. Is that so?

I believe so, but the post above might have proved me wrong about the IDing without photo issue!

Sickener · #6 (**permalink**) 22-09-2008, 03:31 PM

This is what Fungi2bwith is suggesting:

Is that it?

fungi2bwith · #7 (**permalink**) 22-09-2008, 03:33 PM

I'm not very good with latin names, but for some reason I can always recall this one

Phallus impudicus.

kath · #8 (**permalink**) 22-09-2008, 03:34 PM

yes that is it - was trying to figure out how to copy that picture. So it's an immature stinkhorn then. Are there different species? Sorry but i am not a fungi person so have no idea.

kath · #9 (**permalink**) 22-09-2008, 03:49 PM

thanks fungi2bwith - have had a read around and it sounds - well interesting.

I'm looking forward to its rather interesting mature form but not the smell! How ironic it appears as my husband goes away for a few months - Why doth thou mock me