I Found a Slimy Red Creature in My Yard — The Smell Was Worse Than I Imagined
That morning began as usual. I went outside to water my garden, appreciating the peace. Suddenly, a powerful, foul smell cut through the air. It was a sharp, rotten odor that immediately put me on edge.
I started looking for the source, thinking it might be spoiled food or a dead animal. Then I noticed it: a bizarre, reddish lump moving slightly near the flowers. It was slimy and glistened under the sun, a truly unnatural sight.
The thing was horrifying. It was a bright, unsettling red and had a strange form. The awful stench made me recoil. I was torn between fear and a deep curiosity to understand what it was.
My curiosity ultimately won. I took a picture and searched the internet. I typed in “red slimy mushroom with strong odor” and quickly found a match.
The search revealed it was Anthurus archeri, known as the Devil’s Fingers. This rare fungus is native to Australia and Tasmania. It hatches from an egg-like structure, unfolding into red, tentacled arms.
Its horrible smell serves a purpose: to attract insects that spread its spores. Learning this made the encounter less frightening but no less strange. It felt like a surreal intrusion from another world.
I kept my distance, observing it without touching. This odd discovery became a reminder of nature’s wonders. It taught me about the fine line between the beautiful and the bizarre in our ecosystem.
