Clathrus ruber u cage fungus is a fungus of the Basidiomycota division, family Phallaceae, characterized by presenting the body (carpophorus) in the form of an oval mesh or lattice. The fungus gives off a fetid odor that serves to attract different types of insects and thus use them as a means of dispersing their spores.
It is a species with a wide distribution worldwide, however, scientists maintain that its origin is European from where it spread to the other four continents. Although it appears mentioned in scientific texts since 1560, it was not formally described until 1729.
Your body is rich in minerals such as magnesium, calcium and potassium, as well as carotenes, however, it is not considered suitable for consumption, mainly because of its unpleasant smell. There are scattered records of poisoning by the ingestion of this fungus, however its toxicity has not been demonstrated..
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The immature carpophore has an ovoid (egg phase) or globose shape, up to 6 cm in diameter. Its surface is initially smooth but before opening it develops a mesh of polygonal, grayish or whitish marks, with mycelial cords of the same color.
As the fruiting body matures, the internal structures expand and force distension of the peridium until it bursts while the carpophorus continues to expand. The remains of the peridium remain to form the volva that surrounds the base of the body. This complete process may take a few hours.
The fruiting body emerged from the egg is a receptacle in the shape of a hollow ball, with the walls forming a red or orange spongy net or mesh that becomes more intense towards the base. Apparently the coloration can vary with the temperature and humidity of the environment.
Its size varies enormously, being able to reach a height of up to 20 cm although it is generally close to 10 cm. The framework of the receptacle consists of interlocking arms leaving spaces or holes between them. Arms are wider distally (up to 1.5 cm thick) and taper unevenly towards the base.
The outer surface of the arms may have grooves or wrinkles. The number of holes in each receptacle can vary between 80 and 120, and their diameter is variable..
The fungus lacks a foot and the fruiting body is attached to the substrate by means of thin cords of mycelium called rhizomorphs. There is also no hymenium and the gleba is gelatinous, olive green to brown in color, with a bad odor and covers the inner surface of the receptacle, except near the base of the arms..
The basidia form 6 spores with a smooth, elongated surface, measuring 4 to 6 µm long by 1.5 to 2 µm wide..
Clathrus ruber It grows in soils with abundant decaying plant matter, near places where wood or leaf residues have accumulated. It can grow singly or in groups, both in meadows, gardens and cultivated land..
The original distribution of this species, according to some scientists, included the central and eastern part of Europe, the north of Africa and the western part of Asia. From these localities it is believed that it was introduced to new ones mainly by importing farmland.
It currently has a wide distribution in the five continents, being for example in the United States, Mexico, Canada, Caribbean islands, Argentina, Iran, Japan, China, Algeria, Indo-Pacific islands and in most European countries..
In Ukraine the species is considered in decline and therefore has been included in the red list of threatened species.
The gender Clathrus it is taxonomically located in the Basidiomycota division, Agaricomycetes class, Phallales order, and the Phallaceae family. This family contains fungi that generally have a phallus shape and foul odor..
This genus was described by Pier Antonio Micheli in 1753, using a C. ruber as a type species and currently has about 20 validly described species and extensive synonymy.
Within the genre, Clathrus ruber belongs to what mycologists call the Laternoid series (Laternoid series), which houses species that do not have coalescing arms at the base and that form a spongy receptacle.
Although the species appears illustrated in scientific texts since 1560, it was not until 1729 that it was scientifically described for the first time by Micheli. Among the synonymy of the species, the most common is Clathrus cancellatus, which has been used by North American mycologists.
Other scientific names used to call Clathrus ruber and that are part of the synonymy include Clathrus flavescens, Clathrus cancellatus, Clathrus nicaeensis and also Clathrus ruber var. flavescens.
The fruiting body of Clathrus ruber, as well as the mycelium that grows under the substrate, it is composed of cells that contain two haploid nuclei. During reproduction, the spores will form in basidia present in the gleba. To do this, the two nuclei of the germ cell fuse and form a diploid zygote (karyogamy).
Later and by meiosis, the spores will be haploid again. Six spores are formed in each basidium. These spores will remain suspended in the gleba, which is gelatinous in consistency and has a foul odor. It is located on the arms on the inside of the receptacle, except near the base.
The smell attracts insects that feed on the gleba by ingesting some spores, while others adhere to the walls of its body, when the insects move away they disperse the spores in their feces and those adhering to the body detach and disperse as well..
Upon reaching a suitable substrate, the spores germinate and develop into a primary mycelium. When it coincides with another mycelium, they fuse and form a secondary dicariont mycelium that will grow until its fruiting body emerges from the substrate..
The nutrition of Clathrus ruber it is of the saprotrophic type. The fungus produces and releases enzymes capable of degrading the plant matter found in the substrate where it grows. Once the organic matter is digested extracellularly, the fungus absorbs the released nutrients. In this way the fungus feeds and helps in the formation of soils.
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