The Clathrus archeri, or devil’s fingers mushroom, is so strange that it’s hard to believe it came from this planet.
Also known as the octopus stinkhorn, this bizarre fungus doesn’t smell any better than it looks. The fungus begins its life cycle as a little ball that acts like an egg. As the fungus ages, up to seven red and black tentacles emerge from the sac like a monster giving birth in a science fiction movie.
When the fungus is fully mature it emits a terrible odor strikingly similar to putrid flesh. The devil’s fingers is indigenous to Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand but has also been introduced to Europe, North America, and Asia.