With red tentacles that appear to 'hatch' from a fleshy egg-like sac, it is little wonder this woodland fungus was mistaken for an alien life-form online.
Four photographs of the 'devil's fingers', apparently taken in the New Forest, were posted by Mr Hoare, who works for Butterfly Conservation, on November 10.
The first image shows the fungus - also known as octopus stinkhorn - in its 'gelatinous egg stage', its reddish arms folded against the walls of the clouded sac.
In the second photograph, the four arms press against the sac walls - about to break free.
Arms extended, the fungus is seen standing almost upright out of the ground in the third picture before it fans out - revealing a sticky black substance.
Devil's finger, which is also known as octopus stinkhorn, is related to the common stinkhorn, a well-known woodland fungus in Britain.
It produces a sticky, brown substance designed to attract flies which in turn spread its spores to other locations.
According to Kew Royal Botanic Gardens, the plant is native to Australia and New Zealand but has been introduced elsewhere over the years.
According to Mr Hoare, devil's fingers, are becoming increasingly common in the New Forest.
Four photographs of the 'devil's fingers', apparently taken in the New Forest, were posted by Mr Hoare, who works for Butterfly Conservation, on November 10.
The first image shows the fungus - also known as octopus stinkhorn - in its 'gelatinous egg stage', its reddish arms folded against the walls of the clouded sac.
In the second photograph, the four arms press against the sac walls - about to break free.
Arms extended, the fungus is seen standing almost upright out of the ground in the third picture before it fans out - revealing a sticky black substance.
Devil's finger, which is also known as octopus stinkhorn, is related to the common stinkhorn, a well-known woodland fungus in Britain.
It produces a sticky, brown substance designed to attract flies which in turn spread its spores to other locations.
According to Kew Royal Botanic Gardens, the plant is native to Australia and New Zealand but has been introduced elsewhere over the years.
According to Mr Hoare, devil's fingers, are becoming increasingly common in the New Forest.
Music: Orion 300XB by Kevin MacLeod
Source: Mirror , DailyMail
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