The Further Adventures of Fungus

Yes, it IS a Clathrus ruber: a cage fungus. This photo is actually of the original's 'brother' - although, you may be pleased to hear - the one I lifted and opened and weighed and then returned to the garden is ALSO opening further. So it seems I didn't kill it in my investigations.

They are absolutely amazing things. The sticky, gloopy, ughhy-looking olive-green spores are now visible. They're no longer a central ball, but have sprung from the bright pinky-red cage ready to attract flies. It's not often you see something you've never seen in your life before in your own garden, is it?!

I just love the final statement in its description from Geoffrey Kibby's "Mushrooms and Toadstools - a field guide":

Not considered edible.

As if!!!