commonly known column saprobic species fungus family widespread distribution found africa americas introduced north_america exotic plants similar fungi fruiting body known starts subterranean egg form fungus develops expands protective ultimately developing mature structures characterized long vertical orange red columns joined apex fully grown reaches heights tall inside surfaces columns covered olive brown spore containing attracts flies insects help spores considered undesirable fungus listed edible found commonly taxonomy naming species named french botanist transferred genus intended accommodate like species arms arranged columns network current meaning includes species suspended arch columns extend central core genera species transferred include considered obsolete genera specific epithet latin meaning supported pillars mushroom commonly known column curtis gates lloyd wrote florida known natives dead men fingers description fruit body consists usually vertical columns separate arise joined arch columns joined pairs opposite pairs joined short broad arch similar structure columns columns narrower base reddish orange yellowish pink young specimens fruit body compressed small interior space egg consists surrounded gelatinous layer compressed fruiting body egg usually gray grayish brown typically reaches columns grow remains base fruit body thick loose whitish sack found base types tissues central bundle fine hyphae extend longitudinal direction outer layer hyphae form loose highly interwoven structure grown columns extend ground location spore dispersal spore bearing mass upper inner surface columns spores elliptical smooth dimensions thin walls covered transparent envelope edibility words published serve warning inclined consume odor fully grown specimens order question poisonous character eaten men subject experiment described cases poisoning involving young girl ate small piece fungus seized violent followed loss speech deep sleep lasting hours case involved ate fungus found patches oak woods died hours later despite early report poisoning notes taste egg mild lists species edible similar species similarities larger like squid arms attached bases free grows rotting logs chip soil contrast grows sandy soil smaller stature tall columns development american botanist published detailed description development found egg consists systems continued upward strand earliest stage layer gives rise outer layer plates thin walled usually angular randomly arranged cells tightly packed portion gives rise gelatinous masses gelatinous layer gelatinous tissue chambers begins base hangs suspended arch tissue chamber masses ecology habitat distribution like species saprobic uses acquire nutrients dead decaying organic matter like wood consequence dead wood fungus associated disturbed habitats found growing gardens residences areas cultivation landscaping resulted wood chips rich materials traced buried roots stumps woody material species grows sandy soil near woody debris gardens cultivated soil fruit bodies appear singly scattered arise summer autumn early winter especially wet weather like member family mature fungus attracts insects smell help disperse spores beetle beetle family recorded feeding mexican specimens summarized known geographical distribution fungus collected australia new_zealand oceania new_guinea africa according australian mycologist tom australian distribution presumably erroneous based single collection central_america collected costa_rica found china north american distribution extends south mexico north new_york hawaii fungus common southeastern southern united_states thought introduced north_america typically appear areas locations exotic plants established
Clathrus columnatus