- Documented just once in 1919 at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Sri Lanka, an elusive mushroom has resurfaced more than a hundred years later, causing excitement among mycologists and nature lovers alike.
- The fungus is known for its phallic shape and foul-smelling spore mass, which attracts insects for spore dispersal — a unique strategy among fungi, which otherwise mostly use wind to disperse the spores.
- After the publication of a research paper, at least five separate observations from different parts of the country were reported highlighting that the mushroom may survive in many places.
- Mycologists call for greater attention to fungi in biodiversity research and conservation, as many species may remain hidden — or risk disappearing unnoticed.
COLOMBO — In July 2023, heavy rains continued in southern Sri Lanka for days, soaking the lush greenery of the village of Hapugala in Galle. Amid the downpour, journalist and naturalist Sajeewa Wijeweera received an unexpected call — not from the wild, but from just across his garden. His wife, Sirangika Lokukaravita, had spotted something strange emerging from the wet soil: a vivid red mushroom with a bulbous base, bizarre and eye-catching in form.
Experienced in nature observation, Wijeweera suspected this wasn’t just another garden fungus. He turned to plant identification apps, but it was not possible to identify the mushroom. Intrigued, he sent the images to a network of botanists, hoping for a clue.
One of the first to respond was Bhathiya Gopallawa, a doctoral researcher at the University of Peradeniya. “This looks like a mushroom not recorded from Sri Lanka before,” he said — a comment that turned casual curiosity into scientific excitement.
After digging through mycological records, the team identified the specimen as Mutinus bambusinus, a rare stinkhorn mushroom that hadn’t been documented in Sri Lanka in more than a century. The only known record dated back to 1919, when it was found growing in decomposing bamboo debris. While the species is known from other tropical regions, its reappearance in Sri Lanka, especially outside a bamboo grove, was remarkable.
“There were no bamboos in that area for as long as I can remember,” Wijeweera told Mongabay, highlighting the unexpected nature of the find.
A mushroom with a stench and a secret
Stinkhorn mushrooms, locally known as nai hathu or “cobra mushrooms,” are infamous for their foul odor and unappetizing appearance. “As the name suggests, stinkhorns emit a strong, rotting smell and often resemble horns or even phallic shapes,” explained Deepthi Yakandawala, a botanist at the University of Peradeniya and co-author of a study about the findings.
Unlike typical mushrooms that rely on the wind for spore dispersal, stinkhorns use insects, especially flies, as their carriers. The tip of the mushroom is coated with a sticky, spore-rich slime called gleba, which releases the putrid scent. Flies, mistaking it for decaying meat, land on the mushroom, feed on the gleba and unknowingly transport spores to new locations.
Stinkhorns are fast growers, sometimes appearing overnight. Their sudden emergence and odd shapes often startle or intrigue observers. They thrive in moist environments with decaying plant material, such as forests, gardens and mulched areas as they play a vital role in breaking down organic matter and cycling nutrients through ecosystems.
“This is a great example of how citizen science can contribute to formal research,” Yakandawala said, praising the Wijeweera family for their observation and curiosity. She emphasized the importance of sharing such findings with experts to ensure they’re documented for scientific records.
One find sparks many
The rediscovery triggered wider interest among nature lovers and scientists alike. Since the publication of the study, Gopallawa said at least five other observations of M. bambusinus have been reported to him from different locations in Sri Lanka. “It’s likely that the mushroom survives in many locations but has been overlooked for years,” he told Mongabay. “Now that people are aware of it, we expect more reports in the coming months,” Gopallawa said.
Sri Lanka’s fungal diversity remains one of the least-studied aspects of its biodiversity. Scientists estimate the country may be home to as many as 25,000 fungal species, yet only around 3,000 have been documented so far. Most of the known records date back to the colonial era, with nearly 2,000 species recorded before 1950, largely by British scientists.
“Since then, much of the fungal research has been scattered or sparse,” said Nimal Adikaram, a professor emeritus of botany now affiliated with the National Institute of Fundamental Studies. Adikaram expressed hope as more young scientists begin exploring this overlooked group, as there are more to explore.
Pressure on mushrooms
When it comes to the word fungus, people have negative perspectives that it is just an organism that can harm agriculture. However, fungi play an important role in maintaining a vital balance in ecosystems, scientists say.
These friendly fungi species, particularly mushrooms, are vulnerable to climate change and habitat loss. “These organisms depend on specific moisture and temperature conditions to grow and reproduce,” Adikaram noted. Shifting monsoon patterns, prolonged droughts and more intense rains can disrupt fruiting seasons, reduce fungal abundance or cause premature decay of mushrooms; however, researchers had not done many studies to understand such effects, according to Adikaram.
Rising global temperatures also increase the risk of wildfires, which destroy leaf litter and underground fungal networks. “The loss of fungi affects nutrient cycling, forest health and biodiversity as a whole,” Adikaram said. “That’s why research into fungi must be strengthened.”
The rediscovery of M. bambusinus — sparked by a casual glance into a rain-soaked garden — underscores how much there is yet to learn about Sri Lanka’s fungal flora and how ordinary citizens can play a vital role in uncovering those secrets.
Banner image: The reddish mushroom has a strange look resembling a male genital top and a bulbous base, bizarre and eye-catching in form. Image courtesy of Sajeewa Wijeweera.
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Citation:
Gopallawa, B., Yakandawala, D.M.D., Wijeweera, S., Madola, G.K.I.S., Adikaram, N.K.B. (2025). The first record of Mutinus bambusinus (Zoll.) E. Fisch. after 104 years of its initial documentation in Sri Lanka. Ceylon Journal of Science. Volume: 54 Issue: 2. Page/Article: 419-423. doi: 10.4038/cjs.v54i2.8383
Adikaram, N. K., & Yakandawala, D. M. (2020). A checklist of plant pathogenic fungi and Oomycota in Sri Lanka. Ceylon Journal of Science, 49(1), 93. doi:10.4038/cjs.v49i1.7709
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