Stinking Earthfan

Appearance

Perhaps one of the most fetid of fungi is "Thelephora palmata". Some specimens were on one occasion taken by Mr. Berkeley into his bedroom at Aboyne, when, after an hour or two, he was horrified at finding the scent far worse than that of any dissecting room. He was anxious to save the specimens, but the scent was so powerful that it was quite intolerable till he had wrapped them in twelve thick folds of the strongest brown paper. Mordecai Cubitt Cooke, 1888

The fruit body of "T. palmata" is a coral-like tuft that is repeatedly branched from a central stalk, reaching dimensions of 3.5–6.5 cm tall. The branches of the fruit body end in spoon- to fan-shaped tips that are frequently fringed or grooved. The branches of the fruit body are initially whitish in color, but gradually turn gray to lilac-brown in maturity; the tips, however, remain whitish, or paler than the lower parts. The flesh is tough and leathery. The hymenium is amphigenous, that is, it occurs on all surfaces of the fruit body.

The odor of the fruit body is quite unpleasant, resembling fetid garlic, "old cabbage water", or "overripe cheese". It has been called "a candidate for stinkiest fungus in the forest". The unpleasant odor intensifies after drying. Fruit bodies are not edible.

In deposit, the spores are purple-brown to brown. Viewed with a microscopic, the spores appear purple, angular with lobes, and warted, with fine spines measuring 0.5–1.5 µm long; the overall dimensions of the elliptic spores are 8–12 by 7–9 µm. They contain one or two oil drops. The basidia measure 70–100 by 9–12 µm, and have sterigmata that are 2–4 µm thick by 7–12 µm long. The flesh stains deep blue when a drop of potassium hydroxide solution is applied. The fungus contains the pigment thelephoric acid.

"Thelephora anthocephala" is somewhat similar in appearance, but can be distinguished by branches that taper upward, branch tips that are flattened, and the lack of a fetid odor. The North American species "T. vialis" has smaller spores and a more variable color. Darker "Ramaria" species are distinguished by their non-leathery flesh texture and pointy branch tips.

Distribution

The species is found in Asia, Europe, North America, and South America. It has also been recorded from Australia and Fiji. Fruit bodies are consumed by the springtail species "Ceratophysella denisana".

Habitat

"Thelephora palmata" is an ectomycorrhizal species, forming mutualistic associations with conifers. Fruit bodies grow singly, scattered, or in groups on the ground in both coniferous and mixed forest and grassy fields. A preference has been noted for moist ground, and locations along woodland paths. An uncommon species, fruit bodies can be difficult to see because they blend well into their surroundings.

Uses

Fruit bodies of "Thelephora palmata" can be used for mushroom dyeing. Depending on the mordant used, colors ranging from blackish brown to dark grayish green to greenish brown can be obtained from the dyeing process; without a mordant, a light-brown color is produced.