Nature is full of wonders: stunning flora, fascinating fauna and breathtaking landscapes. But for all its beauty, nature also hides its fair share of eerie and unsettling surprises. Mushrooms, in particular, embody this duality.
While some fungi are familiar sights in our gardens or grocery stores, others are bizarre, "alien" creations that can send shivers down your spine with their looks alone. Here are eight of the creepiest (and equally fascinating) mushrooms you might not have known about before.
Geastrum triplex -- or, commonly, the collared earthstar -- might not seem all too creepy at first. In fact, its star-shaped, almost cookie-like structure, which forms as the mushroom matures, is almost whimsical. But don't let its charming exterior fool you; this fungus has a hidden talent that's equal parts fascinating and unsettling.
The species begins life as small, onion-like spheres buried just below or atop the soil. As they grow, the outer layer of their bodies splits open, forming a star-shaped base. This base cradles the mushroom's central sphere, which houses its spores. This unique design enhances spore dispersal, which ensures that the earthstar's next generation can spread far and wide -- according to a 2009 study published in the Transactions of the Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists Society.
But what truly sets the earthstar apart is its dramatic spore release. When disturbed -- by rain, wind or even an inquisitive passerby -- the mushroom emits a puff of spores so thick it resembles smoke. Combined with its alien-like appearance, this behavior feels like something out of science fiction, making the collared earthstar both intriguing and mildly eerie.
At first glance, Coprinopsis comatus -- commonly known as the shaggy ink cap -- appears harmless, or perhaps even mundane. Its fibrous, bell-shaped cap is a classic mushroom silhouette.
However, this innocent appearance doesn't last long. As the mushroom matures, it begins to liquefy. At peak maturity, it transforms into a sticky, black sludge that's equal parts intriguing and grotesque.
This process, called deliquescence, is a brilliant adaptation. By dissolving its cap, the mushroom ensures that its spores can drip down and spread to the greatest lengths possible. The inky substance was even historically used for writing -- though, today, it's hard to imagine anyone wanting to work with such macabre looking material.
What makes the ink cap particularly creepy is its fleeting nature, rather than just its looks or transformation alone. Within hours, a cluster of these mushrooms can dissolve into an unrecognizable mess; by the end, they leave only their stems behind. This makes ink caps one of our greatest reminders of how ephemeral life is in the fungal kingdom.
Words fail to describe the eerie glow of Omphalotus nidiformis. If you're yet to encounter these fungi in the flesh, picture walking in a dark forest, but with the ground dotted by faint, ghostly glows. This luminescence is the hallmark of this mushroom, which gave rise to its common name: the ghost fungus.
Native to Australia and parts of Asia, Omphalotus nidiformis is bioluminescent -- that is, it produces its own light. This glow is the result of a chemical reaction involving luciferin and luciferase, the very same compounds that make fireflies shine.
Arguably, what adds most to the ghost fungus' mystique is its unusual shape. With its fan-like cap and wavy edges, the ghost fungus looks like something you'd find in a haunted forest. While it's not toxic to touch, its haunting appearance and eerie glow make it one of the creepiest mushrooms around.
One cannot list bizarre, alien-like mushrooms without giving mention to Clathrus ruber. Commonly known as the basket stinkhorn, this fungus rises from the ground in a lattice-like structure that resembles a meaty, hollow cage.
Its unusual shape isn't just for show. Like other stinkhorns, Clathrus ruber uses its bizarre appearance and foul odor to attract flies. The sticky, putrid-smelling slime that coats its surface contains the mushroom's spores. When flies land on it, they unwittingly become carriers -- spreading the spores wherever they choose to go next.
While this reproductive strategy is undoubtedly effective, it doesn't win Clathrus ruber any points for charm. Between its reddish color, strange shape and repugnant smell, this mushroom is as creepy as it is fascinating.
Even if it weren't highly toxic, you'd still likely avoid eating Gyromitra esculenta; its appearance alone is just that unsettling. With a wrinkled, brain-like cap perched atop a slender stalk, it looks more like a prop from a horror movie than it does a natural organism.
Despite its grotesque appearance, the false morel is sometimes mistaken for the true morel -- a prized edible mushroom. This mistake can be deadly, as emphasized in a 2007 case study from the Canadian Journal of Emergency Medicine. The False Morel contains gyromitrin, a toxin that can cause severe illness if consumed, and even death in severe cases.
The lethal potential of the false morel, compounded by its uncanny resemblance to gray matter, makes it a mushroom you'll want to "admire" from a very safe distance.
Few mushrooms are as viscerally disturbing as Hydnellum peckii. Commonly known as the bleeding tooth fungus, this bizarre species "bleeds" bright red droplets from its spongy white surface, creating the appearance of an open wound.
In reality, the red liquid is a pigment exuded by the fungus when it collects excess moisture. While it's not harmful, the sight of a bleeding mushroom is enough to make even the most seasoned mycologist shudder.
Interestingly, despite its gory appearance, the bleeding tooth fungus is also highly ecologically significant, according to research from Mycologia. It forms a symbiotic relationship with trees -- such as spruces -- and, in turn, assists them in absorbing nutrients from the soil. However, even its environmental benefits can't offset its nightmarish appearance.
Few things are as unsettling as stumbling across Xylaria polymorpha in the woods without knowing what it really is. This fungus, aptly nicknamed "dead man's fingers," looks like blackened, skeletal fingers clawing their way out of the ground -- or, rather, a grave.
As its common name suggests, Xylaria polymorpha's black, elongated fruiting bodies are disturbingly lifelike, most especially when clustered together. Dead Man's Finger's redeeming quality, however, is that it's a saprophyte -- meaning that it feeds on decaying organic matter, according to a 2007 study from Enzyme and Microbial Technology. While this makes it an important decomposer in forest ecosystems -- particularly in terms of wood-rotting -- its macabre appearance often overshadows its ecological role.
Spotting this mushroom in the wild can be an incredibly chilling experience. Its gnarled, finger-like structures seem almost too realistic, which is likely what makes it a favorite subject for both horror enthusiasts and biologists alike.
If there's one mushroom that deserves the title of "creepiest," it's Clathrus archeri. Known as the devil's fingers, this fungus starts life as a gelatinous, egg-like sac buried in the soil. When it emerges, it unfolds into a red, finger-like structure that looks like it may well be clawing its way out of hell.
To make matters worse, the "fingers" are coated in a foul-smelling slime that attracts flies -- much like its close, aforementioned relative, Clathrus ruber. These unsuspecting insects then spread the mushroom's spores, a similar reproductive technique to that of the basket stinkhorn.
The combination of its grotesque appearance and putrid odor makes Clathrus archeri a mushroom you'll never forget. With its absolutely horrifying tentacle-like appearance and putrid odor, it's easily one of the creepiest mushrooms you could ever encounter. If anything, the devil's fingers fungus looks like it belongs on an alien planet, or perhaps in an Evil Dead film -- but certainly not on a list of fungi.