In a desolate corner of Dartmoor National Park, a rare and ominous fungus has been unearthed by a seasoned hiker. The Devil's Fingers fungus, with its twisted, spindly fingers and blackened skin, resembles a grimy apparition from the grave. Found in this isolated valley, the fungus was described as having "a putrid perfume of decay" that is said to attract flies, which in turn spread the fungal spores.
This alien species, native to Australia and New Zealand, has been believed to have arrived in England during World War I, likely hitching a ride on war supplies. Dubbed the octopus stinkhorn, it's named for its distinctive tentacles that give off a noxious odor reminiscent of rotting flesh. The fungus itself is a pale gelatinous shell from which it emerged, affectionately known as a witch's egg.
As I finally found myself face-to-face with this unusual organism, I couldn't help but feel an air of trepidation. The eerie landscape surrounding the fungus seemed to amplify its otherworldly presence. It was only when Martin Williams, the hiker's navigation tutor, sent me a map pinpointing the fungus's location that I could finally lay eyes on it.
Despite my initial reluctance, I must admit that encountering this peculiar creature left an indelible mark on my senses. The pungent aroma of decay that emanated from the fungus was unmistakable, and though it was an acquired taste, it served as a reminder of nature's capacity to fascinate and repel us in equal measure.
This singular specimen has earned its place alongside other devilish monikers, including the Devil's-bit scabious flower and the devil matchstick lichen. The nickname for screaming swifts, "devil birds," perhaps pales in comparison to this fungus, whose very presence seems to scream, play dead amid the grasses.
This alien species, native to Australia and New Zealand, has been believed to have arrived in England during World War I, likely hitching a ride on war supplies. Dubbed the octopus stinkhorn, it's named for its distinctive tentacles that give off a noxious odor reminiscent of rotting flesh. The fungus itself is a pale gelatinous shell from which it emerged, affectionately known as a witch's egg.
As I finally found myself face-to-face with this unusual organism, I couldn't help but feel an air of trepidation. The eerie landscape surrounding the fungus seemed to amplify its otherworldly presence. It was only when Martin Williams, the hiker's navigation tutor, sent me a map pinpointing the fungus's location that I could finally lay eyes on it.
Despite my initial reluctance, I must admit that encountering this peculiar creature left an indelible mark on my senses. The pungent aroma of decay that emanated from the fungus was unmistakable, and though it was an acquired taste, it served as a reminder of nature's capacity to fascinate and repel us in equal measure.
This singular specimen has earned its place alongside other devilish monikers, including the Devil's-bit scabious flower and the devil matchstick lichen. The nickname for screaming swifts, "devil birds," perhaps pales in comparison to this fungus, whose very presence seems to scream, play dead amid the grasses.
just can't believe what I'm reading about this Devil's Fingers fungus 
it's like something out of a horror movie! The idea that it's been living on Dartmoor for years, maybe even decades, and we only just found out about it is wild 
I'm not surprised it attracts flies and spreads its spores so easily - nature can be pretty ruthless 
how this fungus has become a part of our folklore, with all these creepy nicknames like "devil bird" or "witch's egg". It's like we're drawn to the weird and unknown, even when it comes to creatures that make us squirm 
It's like something out of a horror movie! The idea that it might've been transported here on war supplies is wild, and I'm curious if anyone's done any research into how it's adapting to the UK environment. I guess it's cool that it's added another weird creature to the list of weird creatures we've got here. Still feels like something I'd rather not be walking around in the woods at night... 
the stink it gives off is like rotting flesh 
I can imagine how surreal that must've been for you! Encountering something so alien and mysterious must've left you with a mix of emotions. The description of the fungus is already pretty eerie, but I can see why it'd be even more unsettling in person 
Anyway, glad you got to experience its... pungent aroma 
. The fact that it's from Australia & New Zealand makes sense, given how they're always havin' weird stuff growin' in their backyards 
. Can't say I blame the hiker for feelin' trepidation, but at the same time, who wouldn't wanna see somethin that looks like somethin outta a horror movie? 
. The fact that it smells like rotting flesh is wild, I mean, who needs a stink bomb when Mother Nature can just create its own? 
. I mean, who names a fungus after an octopus? Genius or what? 
I'm low-key obsessed with it! It's like something out of a horror movie 
I mean, have you seen those twisted fingers? 
but at the same time, it's kinda mesmerizing? I need to see this in person ASAP! 
. The fact that it showed up in England during WWI? Mind blown 
!
.
. Like, people will actually pay money to go see this stuff in person... no thanks. And what's with the names anyway? "Devil's Fingers" like it's some kind of creepy storybook character. Just a bunch of old spores stuck in the ground. Who gets excited about that? 
and this fungus has got some serious creep factor goin' on - i can see why the name devil's fingers stuck 
those tentacles look straight outta a horror movie, and that smell? ouch! 
it's no wonder people gave it these crazy nicknames like devil fingers & octopus stinkhorn lol 
That putrid perfume of decay is GROSS 
. And don't even get me started on the smell – putrid perfume of decay, yeah right 
. And, honestly, I kinda wanna go on a hike and try to find this thing myself... but only if I can bring some nose plugs 