An Explorer's Report: The Henderson Park Stinkhorn Expedition of 2020.

(Pre-Covid) 

Knowing of my interest in mushrooms of all kinds, Allie told me this morning that she had seen some, 'looking like red fingers' poking up out of the ground, near some pine trees, as she did her daily training for another half marathon that's coming up. 

"Ooh, ooh," I said, "Gotta see 'em. Betcha they're stinkhorns."  (I've never seen any of those here before.)

Not long after this discussion, I did indeed set out to find this hidden realm of the showy, but smelly fungus.

Come along with me.

There is still evidence in Henderson Park of the wind storm that toppled several trees.

Not much chance of these little guys blowing over. I call them 'Minion Trees.' 

Would this be considered photobombing my own picture?  

I wanted that guy in the shot to help show the size of the tree. 

After looking at the downed tree, I continued along the trail that Allie advised would take me to the mushrooms. 

She told me they're under those pines. Note the flowers on the tree and the trail marker.

Now that's a flower! Almost the size of a dinner plate.  

The Twin Streams refer to the Opanuku and the Oratia, both of which flow into Henderson Creek. 

We have arrived. Stinkhorn Glade. They're rather hard to see in this shot.

But here they are.  

Look at that. Amazing.

This is the same one, looking straight down on it.  

They are called stinkhorns for a reason. This whole area smelled slightly rotten, or a bit like garlic gone bad. You can see that they are even drawing flies.   

What an adventure. I enjoyed every minute of it. I think that these are Clathrus archeri, the octopus stinkhorn, which is native to N.Z.  

Thanks Allie, for your sharp eyes and for sharing your find with us.     -djf