Wildlife
Bridal veil stinkhorns are fungi that grow in rainforest leaf litter. They get their name from the veil formation that hangs down from the cap. Despite their pretty appearance, they usually smell appalling, as their aim is to attract carrion eating flies which then distribute the spores. Uncommon in the wild, the stinkhorn is now cultivated for use in Chinese cuisine and medicine.
Scientific name: Phallus indusiatus
Rank: Species
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The Bridal veil stinkhorn can be found in a number of locations including: Amazon Rainforest, China, North America, South America. Find out more about these places and what else lives there.
The following habitats are found across the Bridal veil stinkhorn distribution range. Find out more about these environments, what it takes to live there and what else inhabits them.
Discover what these behaviours are and how different plants and animals use them.
Chemical communicationAdditional data source: Animal Diversity Web
Phallus indusiatus, commonly called in English the bamboo fungus, bamboo pith, long net stinkhorn, crinoline stinkhorn or veiled lady, is a stinkhorn fungus in the Phallaceae family. It has a cosmopolitan distribution in tropical areas, and has been collected in Asia, the Americas, and Africa. The fungus is characterised by a conical to bell-shaped cap on a stipe and a lacy "skirt" that hangs from beneath the cap. Mature fruit bodies are up to 30 cm (12 in) tall with a cap that is 2–4 cm (0.8–1.6 in) long. The cap is covered with a greenish spore-containing slime, which attract flies and other insects that eat the spores and disperse them. It is an edible mushroom used as an ingredient in Chinese haute cuisine; the mushroom is grown commercially and commonly sold in Asian markets. Nutritional analysis has shown that the mushroom is rich in protein, carbohydrates and dietary fiber. The mushroom also contains various bioactive compounds, and has antioxidant and antimicrobial properties.
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