Lysurus cruciatus

Lysurus cruciatus in Calhoun County ( Michigan)

Lysurus cruciatus, also known as " fingers fungus ", is a species of fungus in the family Stinkmorchelverwandten ( Phallaceae ) and belongs to the genus Lysurus.

Features

From one to 4 cm Hexenei a porous, white to off-white receptaculum, which is crowned 5-7 short arms developed. These are separated from the stem by an annular underdeveloped bar. The arms are querrunzelig on the inside and are crossed on the exterior of a longitudinal groove. Their color is described differently: it ranges from whitish and brownish yellow to orange. Initially, the arms are joined together in a conical tip and splay apart after drainage of the brownish, foul-smelling gleba. Just as with Clathrus archeri ( and other representatives of Stinkmorchelartigen ) the spores are spread by insects (especially of carrion flies ) that feed on the Gleba.

Dissemination

Lysurus cruciatus was originally native to South America, South Africa and Australia. Moreover, it was also detected in the United States ( especially in California ) the nature, where it was probably introduced. Even in western Asia and Europe ( England, the Netherlands, Portugal and Sweden) Lysurus cruciatus was most likely introduced. In Germany Lysurus cruciatus has only been found in Ludwig Lust, Leipzig- Paunsdorf, Luckau and Schulzenhof at Gransee. Unlike other Neomyceten how Clathrus archeri, the kind in Germany but could not establish so far and is a rare exotic still.

Ecology

In Lysurus cruciatus is a Saprobionten, which grows singly or in groups on the ground, on grass areas, in gardens, on dead wood and hay bales.

Importance

Lysurus cruciatus is considered inedible.

Evidence

• Http://www.naturforschung.info/NGN % 202005 % 20PDF/13a % 20Tintenfischpilz2005 - 14.pdf
• Http://www.mycobank.org/MycoTaxo.aspx?Link=T&Rec=100531
• Http://www.mushroomexpert.com/lysurus_cruciatus.html