5 Mushrooms That Look Straight Out of a Sci-Fi Movie

Mushrooms are one of nature’s strangest organisms, and some of them are downright bizarre! While many of us are familiar with the everyday button or portobello mushrooms found in the supermarket, the fungal world is vast and full of peculiar shapes, colors, and behaviors. Let's explore some of the weirdest mushrooms on the planet, from fungi that look like octopuses to others that seem to ooze slime. Read ahead to learn why these mushrooms stand out from the rest!

1. Octopus Stinkhorn (Clathrus archeri)

One of the most visually bizarre mushrooms is the Octopus Stinkhorn, also known as the Devil's Fingers. When it first emerges from the ground, it resembles an egg, but soon the “fingers” burst out, spreading like tentacles. These red, alien-looking arms are coated with a foul-smelling slime, which attracts flies to help spread its spores.

The octopus-like appearance combined with its foul odor makes this fungus look like something from a horror movie. Its ability to attract insects with its smell, while not unique to mushrooms, gives it an extra eerie factor.

2. Bleeding Tooth Fungus (Hydnellum peckii)

At first glance, the Bleeding Tooth Fungus looks like a piece of chewed-up gum or a dessert gone wrong. Its white surface is dotted with bright red droplets that resemble blood. While it looks like something from a Halloween display, this fungus isn’t harmful but isn’t edible either due to its extremely bitter taste.

The Bleeding Tooth Fungus oozes a red liquid that looks shockingly like blood, giving it its eerie name. This liquid contains a pigment with anticoagulant properties, adding to its strange characteristics. While not edible, it certainly leaves an impression!

3. Bioluminescent Mushroom (Panellus stipticus)

Yes, you read that right—some mushrooms can glow in the dark! The Panellus stipticus is a bioluminescent mushroom, meaning it produces light. While not as bright as a lightbulb, this mushroom emits a faint greenish glow in dark, damp environments. It’s commonly found on decaying wood, where it helps break down organic matter.

The ability to glow in the dark is not something you see every day, especially in the fungal world. This natural light display is caused by a chemical reaction known as bioluminescence, which makes the Panellus stipticus a standout among mushrooms.

4. Puffball (Basidiomycota)

Puffball mushrooms are round, white fungi known for releasing a cloud of spores when they mature. A simple touch or raindrop can cause a “puff” of spores to emerge, making them look like they’re smoking. Some, like the giant puffball, can grow impressively large, up to a foot in diameter.

Their spore-releasing mechanism is both fascinating and strange, and the sight of a puffball "exploding" is a surreal natural phenomenon. Puffballs are also edible when young, but they should only be eaten while their flesh is still pure white.

5. Lion’s Mane Mushroom (Hericium erinaceus)

The Lion’s Mane mushroom is strange not because of its color, but because of its shape. This white fungus grows in shaggy clusters that resemble a lion’s mane or a waterfall of icicles. Unlike most mushrooms that have caps and stems, the Lion’s Mane has long, cascading spines that hang down.

The unique, hair-like structure of the Lion’s Mane is what sets it apart from other mushrooms. Beyond its looks, it’s also known for its medicinal properties and is popular in some cuisines for its seafood-like taste.