Had a run in with the devil today...

[geoff]

Interesting Geoff

 

Have you not had a good search through the directory then?

 

Not being funny, would just like to know how people use it (or not)

 

 

Over 2000 views of it here.......

 

Clathrus archeri - Devils Fingers - David Humphries’s Fungi Directory - Arbtalk.co.uk | Discussion Forum for Arborists

 

 

 

Really good find Kevin, not come across it here in he UK myself

 

Only 85 records, and not recorded since 2010

Worth getting in touch with Martyn Ainsworth at Kew

 

 

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I do use the directory David, (brilliant resource)!

 

You have nudged my conscience, I'm going to swat up & spend more time there.

[daltontrees]

What a fabulous find! Michael Kuo's website mentions that this species probably came to California with imported bamboo. Must have done the same at Colchester?

[David Humphries]

I did have a quick frdbi check, and wanted to record it but didn't know how! It looks from their map like other than one record on the suffolk/norfolk coast, this would be the furthest east find, and a first for essex. Mostly being found in Cornwall or by the same person around Knole Park in Kent. Do you happen to have contact details for Martyn? And should I have taken a sample?

 

[email protected]

 

Also worth checking with your local mycology societies or through the BMS

 

 

 

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[sloth]

Ta very much

[daltontrees]

I am always looking for any sort of mnemonic to hlep me slot htings like this into the memory banks. So how about Clathrus = claws thrust out of the ground?

[sloth]

You think too much! However, Clathrus = claws thrust and archeri = arch right over.

Be interesting to know where the name actually comes from. I find that helps me to remember scientific names.

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

very nice find fella, one i long to see

[sloth]

A fair few records at Knole Park and with bamboo at Kew Gardens, might be worth a visit even if you don't find any...

[daltontrees]

Hey I might even remember the archeri bit too now, thanks.

 

So you want to know where the name comes from. Well, clathrus comes from the greek word for cage, which is quite apporopriate for Clathrus ruber (Google it). When C. archeri was discovered it was given a different genus name (Lysurus archeri) but was later reassigned to Clathrus when it was found to be closely related to Clathrus ruber and other stinkhorns. I don't know who Archer was, it was and is common to name new species after patrons, colleagues or even friends.

 

This probably doesn't help.

[sloth]

This probably doesn't help

 

Actually it does, thanks