16 Most Bizarre Mushroom And Fungi Species In The World

With about 14,000 described mushrooms currently inhabiting dank forest floors, decaying tree trunks, and dung piles, there are bound to be some strange-looking varieties. Some depart entirely from the toadstool silhouette—the stereotypical rounded-cap-atop-a-stem set—with lengthy hairlike spines, fanning shell shapes, flower-esque pedals, and lattice designs. Others that lack uniqueness in shape are fantastic in their royal blue, indigo, and even bioluminescent colors.

Devil's Fingers (Clathrus archeri): Among the most bizarre mushrooms, Devil's Fingers certainly ranks high. This is a fungus that begs to be noticed and not just because of its vibrancy but also because of its putrid stink. Indeed, meet the Devil's Fingers, a menacing name for a fungus that smells of rotting meat. The red, starfish-like "fingers" that adorn this weird mushroom commonly number from four to eight and burst forth from a small, light-colored ball of mushroom flesh commonly compared to an egg.