When patches of bright red, star-like fungi erupt from mulch beds and forest floors, few can ignore the striking sight and pungent scent of Aseroe rubra, commonly called the Anemone Stinkhorn. With its radiating arms and olive-green, slimy spore mass, this fungus delights photographers and mushroom enthusiasts alike, if they can brave the odor that attracts flies and other insects. Originating in Australia, A. rubra has now spread worldwide, appearing unexpectedly in urban flowerbeds and rural mulch piles.
Common Names: Anemone Stinkhorn, Starfish Fungus, Sea Anemone Fungus
Family: Phallaceae
Season: Late spring through fall (May – October)
Habitat: Woodchip mulch, gardens, landscaped areas, leaf litter in deciduous and mixed forests
Taxonomy & Nomenclature
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First Described: 1792 by the French botanist Jacques Labillardière.
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Current Name: Assigned by Jacques in 1792
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Etymology: The scientific name is derived from the Ancient Greek words…
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Asē/αση = ‘disgust’
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roē/ροη = ‘juice’
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and the Latin ruber = ‘red’.
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Did You Know?
The gleba (spore-bearing slime) is a sticky olive-green mass that smells of decaying meat, which helps attract flies for spore dispersal
Morphology & Quick ID Guide
Shape: Star- or anemone-like with 6–10 radiating arms (“rays”), each up to 4–7 cm long
Color: Arms bright red to orange-red; gleba (spore mass) olive-green atop the central disk
Texture: Arms are soft, hollow, and can be moist; gleba is slimy and gelatinous
Egg stage: Begins as a white to cream “egg” 2–4 cm in diameter; arms rupture the egg when mature
Spore Print: Not typically obtained due to rapid insect dispersion, but spores are elliptical, 3–5 × 1.5–2 μm
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Microscopic: Hyaline, smooth spores; gleba deposits on the tips of arms where insects feed.
Ecology & Habitat
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Saprobic: Feeds on decaying organic matter, especially woodchips, mulch, and leaf litter, playing a vital role in nutrient cycling.
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Substrate: Common in urban and suburban landscapes, where it can be found on decomposing plant matter as well as on woodchips and mulch.
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Phenology: Appears from late spring through fall (typically May–October), especially after periods of rain and warm temperatures
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Insect Dispersal: The foul-smelling gleba attracts flies and other insects, which feed on the spore mass and carry spores to new locations
Geographic Distribution
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North America: Widely distributed in Australia, it is also found across many islands in the Pacific Ocean, including New Zealand.
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Introduced Populations: Recorded on all continents except Antarctica.
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Behavior:
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Tolerant of human-disturbed habitats; A. rubra often appears soon after woodchip installation, earning a reputation as an “early colonizer” in landscaped areas
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Edibility & Uses
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Edibility: Considered inedible due to its unpleasant odor and slimy gleba, though not distinctly toxic. It is generally not collected for consumption.
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Bioactive Compounds:
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A. rubra has no widely reported medicinal uses.
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Observing & Photographing Tips
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Where to Look: Check recently mulched flower beds, tree rings, woodchip trails, or garden borders, especially after rains.
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Photography:
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Use a macro or close-focus lens to capture texture details of the gleba and arms.
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Employ a diffuser or soft, indirect light to reduce harsh shadows and highlight the red arms.
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Community Science: Upload observations to iNaturalist to help track distribution and range shifts.
Join an MCG Foray!
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Visit the Event Calendar and Register for our Spring Forays » to explore fungal wonders with Mushroom Club of Georgia—learn field ID tips, meet fellow members, and help map exotic and native species across the state!
References