Red or dead?

Red Cage fungus at Durlston Country Park
Related to the Stinkhorn the extremely rare Red Cage fungus found growing at Durlston Country Park. Also known in some parts of eastern Europe as Witches Heart it erupts from an “egg” like structure before collapsing in on itself 24hrs later.
A collapsed Red Cage Recently emerged Red Cage
The partially collapsed remains of a fairly large specimen approximately 20cm across. A smaller, freshly emerged Red Cage growing in the leaf litter
Close up of the brown, foul-smelling sticky gleba The distinctive smell of rotting flesh given out by the gleba helps to attract insects that spread the spores
Brown, sticky gleba produced by the fungus to attract flies. The gleba has a distinctive smell of rotting flesh.
View from Durlston Castle looking east towards Old Harry and in the distance Bournemouth.
A picture postcard view from the visitor centre looking east towards Old Harry rocks and in the far distance Bournemouth.
Ivy Broomrape, a surprisingly common parasitic plant on the lime rich soils of the Purbeck coast.
Ivy Broomrape. No need for green pigment (chlorophyll) or leaves with the parasitic Broomrape stealing all the nutrients it need from the Ivy.
The rare and earlier flowering Carrot Broomrape
The far rarer Carrot Broomrape. Unfortunately flowering earlier in the season this one was well past its best.

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