New Zealand Fungi

11008-12406 Golden basket fungus (Clathrus chrysomycelinus) starts as an egg which expands with fluid, until the growing fruit-body bursts free and unfolds. The lattice-work of the basket is covered in brown spore mass, and smells of rotting meat. The spores are dispersed by blowflies feeding on the liquid at the intersections of the lattice-work. Whakamarama *

12406Goldenbasket fungusClathruschrysomycelinuseggfruitbodylatticeworkbasketWhakamarama