Some garden surprises are delightful—freshly bloomed flowers, unexpected wildlife visits, or a hidden patch of wild berries. But for one woman, her garden surprise was a bit bizarre. She found herself face-to-face with a strange growth that was causing quite a stir—and a stench.
Joyce, a resident of the NSW Mid North Coast, was simply enjoying a day in her garden when she stumbled upon a sight that was as fascinating as it was foul-smelling.
Nestled in the grass of her well-tended garden was an ‘amazing’ find that’s as intriguing as it is malodorous.
‘I’ve lived here for 40 years and this is the first time I’ve seen one of these beauties. I was so lucky to see it as it lasted only a few hours and then gradually shrivelled away to nothing. The blowflies clustered on it when it was at its prime,’ Joyce told Yahoo News Australia.
The unusual find in question is the bridal veil stinkhorn fungus. It has a bell-shaped brown and white body and a delicate, lacy ‘skirt,’ which had seemingly sprung up overnight. Joyce was quick to capture the moment, sharing a photo of the peculiar fungus online, where it garnered attention for both its beauty and its potent smell.
Seeing her post, other community members shared their similar experiences and sightings of the bizarre-looking fungus.
‘We have had different ones pop up over the last few years,’ commented one person, which another echoed, ‘They are popping all over the place, very strange.’
‘Is this the same thing? I’ve seen a bunch of these a few days ago,’ wrote another, accompanied with a photo of her discovery.
‘I’ve had about five so far. Very unusual things, aren’t they?’ said a different commenter.
The bridal veil stinkhorn is a natural wonder that can be found in woodlands and gardens along the country’s east coast and some parts of the Northern Territory. It’s a sight to behold, but don’t let its appearance fool you—the stinkhorn emits a smell that’s been likened to rotting meat or sewage.
This pungent odour, while repulsive to humans, is a siren call to flies, which flock to the fungus, aiding in the spread of its spores.
Professor Brett Summerell, chief scientist at the Botanic Gardens of Sydney, explains that these fungi are a response to recent rainfall, with conditions being ideal for their emergence.
‘They hatch from egg-shaped structures underground in the soil, will be present for a few days and then just as quickly disintegrate and return to the soil. They are important for the ecosystem as they help break down organic matter and return nutrients to the soil,’ he explained.
While the bridal veil stinkhorn’s scent is ‘awful,’ according to Professor Summerell, it’s not considered poisonous. That said, it’s unlikely to be a tempting treat for most animals, although some dogs might find the smell intriguing enough to investigate.
This isn’t the first time Australians have encountered the stinkhorn family. Varieties come in all shapes and sizes, each producing the signature smelly slime. In Queensland, a lantern stinkhorn fungus, resembling a tongue, was found in a woman’s garden, leaving locals both ‘creeped out’ and curious.
While these mysterious growths may not be the most welcome addition to gardens, they’re a testament to the rich biodiversity that makes Australia so unique.
Have you ever come across a stinkhorn or another bizarre fungal growth in your garden? What was your reaction to its appearance—and its smell? Share your stories with the YourLifeChoices community in the comments below.
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