Identification: Please help me identify this unusual fungus

Discussion in 'Fungi, Lichens and Slime Molds' started by Saltwaterfishin, Dec 7, 2006.

  1. Saltwaterfishin

    Saltwaterfishin Member

    Messages:
    2
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Virginia Beach, Virginia USA
    Greetigs all,

    Can you please help me identify a fungus (or mushroom) that I've seen only twice. I live in Virginia Beach, Virginia and recently saw this particular fungus for the second time. If I had to name it, I would call it Cathedral fungus. It looks like a typical cathedral, has arches and is hollow. It possibly has 4 "columns" that meet at the top. In other words you can see through it. Kind of like a bell tower on top of a church. I believe it uses a scent to attract insects since the one I saw today was covered inside and out with small flies. I've only seen it in mulched beds. The one I saw today was about 3 inches above the mulch. Any help in identification would be helpful. If you can help identify this fungus please email me your answer to: Saltwaterfishin@aol.com

    Thank you,

    Jay
     
  2. tipularia

    tipularia Well-Known Member 10 Years

    Messages:
    1,388
    Likes Received:
    14
    Location:
    Northeast Texas USA
  3. Daniel Mosquin

    Daniel Mosquin Paragon of Plants UBC Botanical Garden Forums Administrator Forums Moderator 10 Years

    Messages:
    10,609
    Likes Received:
    645
    Location:
    Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Tipularia - that search link doesn't work (it's because every time the search engine on-site is reindexed, that URL will change).

    My suggestion is to type in the search term you intended for the original poster to search for, then surround it with the SEARCH tags (or swipe and click on the UBC BG logo mini-icon in the editor, which will add them automatically)

    e.g.:

    PHP:
    [SEARCH]mushroom[/SEARCH]
    yields [SEARCH]mushroom[/SEARCH]
     
  4. tipularia

    tipularia Well-Known Member 10 Years

    Messages:
    1,388
    Likes Received:
    14
    Location:
    Northeast Texas USA
    Thanks!
    Sounds like a cage fungi such as a Clathrus. Here is a key to them and some information. KEY
     
  5. Saltwaterfishin

    Saltwaterfishin Member

    Messages:
    2
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Virginia Beach, Virginia USA
    Thanks to all who have helped me to identify this mushroom. With your help and some extra research on the internet I've decided that what I saw was Clathrus columnatus.

    I want to compliment this web site for being informative and helpful and will continue to visit.

    Thanks again,

    Jay
     

Share This Page