The gasteroid fungi of Essex
has a strong, unpleasant smell, which once experienced is never forgotten. It's presence may be
deduced from the smell alone. It is unmistakeable and is common in woods.
76 GK; 27 LK; 46 MG; 243 MG; 33 MG; 226 MG; 42 MG; 26 MG; 43 MG; 58 MG; 24 JS; 3 JS;
4 JS; 244 JS; 245 BS; 246 BS; 9 BS; 79 BS; 234 BS; 10 AM; 225 JS; 236 MM; 25 MS; 28 ML; 214
ShW; 52 ADB; 37 IR; 41 BC; 48 ADB; 53 MH; 54 TR; 55 IR; 218 EWT; 8 EWT; 2 EWT; 56 EWT;
215 EWT; 49 ADB; 47 EWT; 237 KHa; 58 EWT; 57 GP; 59 EWT; 31 RB; 32 RB; 61 RB; 214
ShW; 4(1 ShW; 247 ShW; 159 ShW; 67 GS; 70 MS; 39 ADB.
Mutinus caninus Dog Stinkhorn (see Plate 10)
Distribution 1:2:3:4:5:6
The fruiting body has a slender stalk, which is pinkish-orange at the top. The slime is olive-brown
with a faint smell. It occurs occasionally in woodland.
76 GK; 46 AK; 2 JS; 234 JS; 79 BS; 25 MS; 26 MG; 54 IR; 55 IR; 56 IR; 59 EWT; 138 ShW; 248
ShW; 70 MS.
Clathrus ruber Red Cage Fungus (see Plate 6)
Distribution 1 : 2 : 5 : 6
The fruiting body consists of a lattice of red, spongy arms growing in a cup. It has an unpleasant
smell to attract flics. This is a Mediterranean species, which has been recorded twice in recent years
in Essex: once in a private garden in Braintree (Boniface 1997). and once from Colchester in 1991,
also in a private garden.
249 MLo; 250 IR.
Gazetteer
1 Langham TM 0333
2 Copperas Wood TM 2031
3 Mill Green TM 6301/6401
4 Danbury Common TL 7804
5 Manning Grove, Great Bromley TM 0827
6 High Woods, Colchester TM 0027
7 Great Common, Thundersley TQ 7989
8 Blakes Wood, Danbury TL 7706
9 West Wood, Hadleigh TQ 8088
10 Norsey Wood, Billericay TQ 6895
11 Stoneymore Wood, Fryerning TL 6301
12 Friday Woods TL 9920
13 Pheasant House Farm, Little Baddow TL 784072
14 Edge of plantation, Colchester TL 9920
15 Garden of 57 High Road, Hockley TQ 8292
16 Little Stambridge Hall TQ 8891
17 Woodham Ferrers, Bicknacre TL 7802
18 Stony Path, Loughton TQ 4297
19 Wrabness, South Bank of River Stour TM 1831
20 Garden of 10 Bartlett Close, Mayland TL 900020
21 Martinhole Wood, Basildon TQ 701861
22 Flitch Way, Felsted TL 684215
23 Parkanaur Avenue, Southend TQ 913848
24 South Weald Park TQ 5795
25 Belhus Woods Country Park TQ 569824/5782
26 Thorndon Park North TQ 609915
27 Warley Place TQ 5890/91
28 Fingringhoe Wick Nature Reserve TM 047195
29 Laindon Common TQ 6792
Essex Naturalist (New Series) 20 (2003)
143