Colus hirudinosus
Colus hirudinosus actually refers to a group of related fungi including C. pusillus. It's a stinkhorn with horizontally wrinkled, red arms united at apex, which can form a lattice. Anthurus archeri has arms which although joined at apex, almost always become free. It is rare.
The fruit body consists of red wrinkled arms which may be joined or form a lattice at the top, expanding from a white-skinned gelatinous egg-like receptacle. When mature, the fungus smells foetid and disgusting. The 'arms' are fused together at the base and held within the 'egg.'
The spores are found within a dark, olive brown slime found inside the 'arms'. They are spread on the feet of insects which are attracted by the smell and crawl over the fungus.
- Colus hirudinosus (fuhrer p 231) Base of Mt Allyn Walk, Upper Allyn, Chichester State Forest, New South Wales, Australia
- Colus hirudinosus group, found in a sheep paddock at Dunedoo, central west NSW
