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Suddenly, I have a favorite fungus

By pharyngula on November 18, 2015.

It's beautiful: the devil's fingers, AKA the octopus fungus. Even just the name is like a barbed hook calculated to draw me in.

devilsfingers

It has other interesting features, besides the awesome appearance.

While unappealing to us humans,

Stop right there. Am I not human? Did I not coo in delight when I first saw this lovely organism? Do I not want to see my grassy yard replaced with thousands of erupting fungal eggs?

But do continue.

what you’re seeing is actually a rather ingenious method of reproduction. The tentacles are laced with a foul smelling tissue, specially formulated to attract flies and other insects. When bugs come-a-knockin’, they get to feed on the slimy substance, but not before their feet are coated with fungus’ spores.

See? What's unappealing about all that?

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Organisms

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