The Aseroe rubra is an historically significant fungus as it was the first fungus collected and described from Australia. It was recorded on 1 May 1792 from Recherche Bay in Tasmania, just south of Hobart by Labillardiere. This fungus is a decomposer (saprotroph) in that it breaks down dead organic matter and recycles the nutrients back into the substrate it is growing in to be available for plants growing there. The olive green/brown slime in the centre of the fungus is the spore mass. Insects, in particular flys eat this smelly substance and disperse the spores. Sometimes you will see the fungus without any of this spore mass because the insects have eaten it all!! Yum......if you're an insect that is, not for people.
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