fungi · GBIF taxon 5239505
Veiled Lady Mushroom
Dictyophora indusiataAlso known as Basket Stinkhorn, Bamboo Mushroom, Long Net Stinkhorn, Bridal Veil
This spectacular stinkhorn unfurls a delicate, lace-like white skirt called an indusium from beneath its olive-brown cap, creating a striking bridal veil appearance. To disperse its spores, the cap produces a pungent, foul-smelling slime that mimics rotting meat, attracting flies and beetles that carry the spores away on their feet. It typically emerges rapidly after heavy rains in tropical forests and bamboo groves, collapsing within a single day.
FungusTropicalDecomposer
Licensed referenceVinayaraj / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
- diet
- Saprophyte (decomposes decaying organic matter)
- family
- Phallaceae
- threats
- Habitat destruction and deforestation
- life Span
- Fruiting body lasts less than 24 hours (mycelium lives for years)
NE
Many edible mushrooms have toxic look-alikes; never eat wild fungi based on app identification alone.
- Follow the scent: Locate these mushrooms by sniffing for their strong, carrion-like odor in damp woods.
- Observe early: Plan morning walks to see the delicate lace skirt fully intact before it wilts.
- Watch the insects: Look closely at the cap to see flies and beetles actively feeding on the spore slime.