While hiking at about 4000 feet on the Hawaiian isle of Kauai, I encountered this odd looking fungus. Perhaps someone can help me identify it? Edit: each was about three inches across, and I think I figured it out. It looks very similar to aseroë rubra, a species apparently found in Pacific islands. If anyone can confirm, I'd like to hear more.
a wonderful Stinkhorn? Reminds me of another called Anthurus archerii but I think you're guess is correct. Both the kind we're mentioning are Australian, how'd your's get to Hawaii? lol
This was found in a shady, damp area that was patrolled by several birds in search of insects and bugs. The relatively small birds would fly in tight circles about a foot over the ground. When we first saw one of these birds, my girlfriend thought it was injured due to the seeming oddity of this behavior. We later saw clearly that the birds were hunting bugs in the mud puddles, with the small flights used as patrols. It seems plausible that the birds, if migratory, had spread the spores either directly through association with the area, or perhaps indirectly through the bugs that they were hunting.
ahh...sounds like a fun place to view! I found this link on MushroomExpert ....might help? http://www.mushroomexpert.com/aseroe_rubra.html
