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STRAWBERRY MONSTER?
Lynne Peachey
Posts: 5
in Plants
I came across this in my strawberry patch about a week ago. It looked like 3 fingers of a discarded rubber glove then. Now it is as you see and also has a central well. There were many more flies on it until I disturbed the surrounding vegetation to take a photo. What on earth is it?
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That looks interesting Lynne. Is it attached to the strawberry plant or coming out of the ground?
In the sticks near Peterborough
Its either an octopus stinkhorn Clathrus archeri or a badly mutilated plastic toy.
Its not attached to the strawberry plant at all just growing alongside.
I have now looked up Clathrus archeri and confirm the identification. Explanations on the web suggest it is very rare in England usually only found in the south and the Channel Islands. I am in the Forest of Dean but we live on the side of a hill in a very sunny micro climate. What to do? Dig it up or leave it alone?
kew says its designed to attract flies so they can spread the spores, i hate flies so would dig it up
I think it's fascinating - I'd leave it alone and go and look at it every day
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I hate flies in the house too so will leave it where it is as it might attract them and keep them out of the house. I do feel quite privileged to have an Australian native at home in my garden
I'd love to find something like that. Though I did have my false morel earlier in the year so not too deprived
In the sticks near Peterborough
Just over a day later and this half "eggshell" is all that's left of the Octopus Stinkhorn!
You were very lucky to spot and photograph it in time Lynne. Thanks for sharing!