Podaxis pistillaris (Desert Shaggy Mane)

FungaAseroe rubra (Anemone Stinkhorn Fungus) Podaxis pistillaris (Desert Shaggy Mane) False Shaggy Mane Leucocoprinus fragilissimus (Fragile Dapperling)

The distinctive look of the Podaxis pistillaris fungus is usually found in the deserts and arid regions of Australia. It has a number of common names across Australia, including the False Shaggy Mane, Desert Shaggy Mane, Stalked Puffball¹, Black Powderpuff, False Inkycap and Desert Inkycap.

It can often be seen pushing its way up through grassy and weed invested street verges and urban gardens in country towns such as picture here in Alice Springs.

When the spores, that can be buried under the hard red encrusted soil of the desert, start to develop, the fungus breaks its way through the soil to grow.

The Podaxis pistillaris (False Shaggy Mane) can be found growing up to 15 cm high, made up of a woody stem (about 2-5 cm) and large, long shaped cap, that protects the blackish tissue underneath, bearing the spores.

The cap of the fungus can vary in colour from white to yellow-brown or tan colour. The outer skin of the fungus, typically breaks into ‘shaggy’ fibrils that fall away, allowing the spores to be dispersed by the breeze and wind.

Often thought of as a ‘stalked puffball’, this fungus, known Podaxis pistillaris is not closely related to the ‘puffballs’.¹ The Podaxis pistillaris is not to be confused with Coprinus Comatus (Shaggy Mane), as it lacks gills and has an dense thick woody stem.

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• Scientific classification
• Kingdom: Fungi
• Division: Basidiomycota
• Class: Agaricomycetes
• Order: Agaricales
• Family: Agaricaceae
• Genus: Podaxis
• Species: Podaxis pistillaris

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FungaAseroe rubra (Anemone Stinkhorn Fungus) Podaxis pistillaris (Desert Shaggy Mane) False Shaggy Mane Leucocoprinus fragilissimus (Fragile Dapperling)