Ileodictyon cibarium (tūtae whetū/ basket fungi)
Last Modified: 1-5-2019 9:44
© Christopher Cookson License this image
Ileodictyon cibarium commonly known as basket fungus or tūtae whetū in te reo Māori, (literally star poo) is a fungus native to New Zealand found in areas rich in organic matter such as leaf litter and mulch. Large fruiting bodies up to about 15cm diameter can occur at any time of the year under suitable conditions, and are distinctive for their white, round shape made up of a number of polygons resembling the panels of a football. A greenish-brown slime covers surfaces of the fruiting body, and a foul smell is emitted, characteristic of members of the stinkhorn or Phallacea family.
Basket fungi can be found throughout New Zealand, both in urban areas and in native forest.
This example was observed in Witherlea, Blenheim.
Image Date: 6/6/2018
Photographer: Christopher Cookson
Location: Latitude: -41.53701 Longitude: 173.961502