Devil's-fingers
Clathrus archeri
Safety assessment
Inedible
Based on reviewed safety sources.
Devils fingers is a non-native species that first appears as a pale egg and then opens into red, star-like tentacles with an unpleasant smell. It is spreading in Europe, often on woodchip and garden mulch.
Identification
- Starts as a pale egg, then red, star-like tentacles covered in foul-smelling spore slime.
- Grows on woodchip, mulch and rich soil; non-native but increasingly frequent.
Baltic distribution
- Latvia
- 0
- Lithuania
- 4
- Estonia
- 0
- Global
- 16812
Occurrence records in GBIF — not a claim that the species is absent elsewhere.
Safety first. This information is an educational reference, not a confirmation of an edible mushroom. Identifying fungi is difficult and mistakes can be dangerous. Never eat a mushroom unless you are completely certain of its identity, and consult a certified mycologist.
