While researching the basket fungus (Ileodictyon cibarium, native) for this week’s post I came across an article that described in detail how to get rid of it - despite, by its own admission, the benefit of leaving it alone: “the basket fungus is neither harmful nor poisonous... It aids the decomposition of rotting material that plants can use for nourishment.”
I love seeing this fungus pop up in my backyard, and I’m not alone - in 2018 it came second in Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research’s search for Aotearoa’s national fungi1. I’ve also seen them at Ōamaru Public Gardens, and currently there’s a healthy wee colony along my walking route to the day-job. No matter how often I see them, I’m still taken away by how alien they look, and how improbable they seem.
This colony has been a great opportunity for me to observe the life cycle of the basket fungus. Like most fungi, the growing happens underground, and all we see are the fruiting bodies (what we call mushrooms) that release spores to reproduce - like seeds do for plants. The spherical basket structure of basket fungus emerges from a small beige egg-shaped form in the ground.
Basket fungi are in the stinkhorn family, a group of fungi that release their spores in a smelly, slimy coating. The smell attracts flies and other insects, which help distribute the spores further afield.
In te reo Māori, there are over thirty names for the basket fungus2. One of these names is tūtae whetū, roughly translating to “star droppings”. There are a number of names that refer to the atua (deity; spirit) of thunder, Whaitiri, but my personal favourite is whareatua: “house of the devil”.
For a long time, fungi were categorised with plants. It was only the 1960’s that scientist Robert Whittaker proposed fungi should be in its own kingdom. In fact, research is now showing that fungi are more closely related to animals than to plants.3
While autumn is the best season for fungi foraging, there’s still plenty to find in the wet winter weather. Basket fungus occurs from Cape Reinga all the way down to Rakiura/Stewart Island so keep an eye out in your garden, in leaf litter, or even in your lawn.
Happy fungi hunting!
Zenobia x
You might also like:
Three reasons fungi are not plants - an article detailing the classification of fungi
Fungi of Aotearoa - a practical guide to identifying fungi in Aotearoa by Liv Sisson, with beautiful photography by Paula Vigus
Fantastic Fungi - a documentary that delves into the magical world of fungi (also available on Netflix)
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https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/359177/new-zealand-s-favourite-fungus-has-been-revealed
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ileodictyon_cibarium
https://asm.org/Articles/2021/January/Three-Reasons-Fungi-Are-Not-Plants
Such an interesting post! I had No Idea!
Fascinating reading, I may try to look more closely at my local fungi. I had a very large stinkhorn in my front garden n a few years ago. It looked like a phallus and it is aptly named phallus impudicus. http://www.mushroomexpert.com/phallus_impudicus.html