Tuateawa Fungi Spot. A couple of Stinkhorns.

These fungi are typical of Tuateawa in autumn, particularly after a good spell of rain. They help to decompose dead plant material. Both of these images are of fungi growing in mulch. The red flower fungus is often found growing in metal drives, particularly if they have been treated with Roundup. They do grow in more natural environments though, like the leaf litter under titree. They are both stinkhorns. The smell attracts flies and they will distribute the spores widely. Both the flower fungus and the basket fungus have a slimy coating.This is what smells. The slime is largely spore material. Both fungi seem to appear from nowhere. They expand rapidly from an "egg". For most of the year you don't see too much because the feeding part of the fungi are underground.