5 Rarest and Weirdest Mushrooms in the Kingdom Fungi

There are certainly many different kinds of mushrooms, but these 5 come from the rarest and weirdest end of the spectrum.

There are bound to be some odd-looking varieties, with about 14,000 documented mushrooms currently living in damp forest floors, decomposing tree trunks, and even dung piles. Some look nothing like common mushrooms, such as these 5 examples of the rarest and weirdest mushrooms in the world.

Bleeding Tooth (Hydnellum peckii)

Rarest: In mainland Britain
Weirdest Feature: Bleeding

The bleeding tooth mushroom can seem quite unsettling or, on the other hand, quite appetizing depending on the viewer's perspective. As a youngster, it exudes bright-red juice that looks like blood but is actually xylem sap droplets that come from pores on its white cap. As it ages, its cap becomes an unremarkable grayish-brown color and will stop bleeding. The bleeding tooth mushroom, also called "Devil's tooth," can be seen in countries including Korea, North America, Iran, and Europe.

Devil's Cigar (Chorioactis geaster)

Rarest: Worldwide, only found in select places in Japan and Texas
Weirdest Feature: No stem or cap

The devil's cigar is a very rare mushroom with the irregular distribution. The reason the fungus has this irregular distribution is still a mystery to scientists. Mycologist Fred Jay Seaver noted in 1939 that it would be challenging to explain or justify the distribution patterns of the fungi.

It doesn't even resemble a typical mushroom. Devil's cigar looks closer to a pedaled flower or a star than the conventional stem-and-cap fungi format; in fact, it is also known as the Texas star.

In June 2021, Texas became the third state after Minnesota and Oregon to declare an official mushroom, designating the devil's cigar as the state mushroom, according to NBC-DFW.

Latticed Stinkhorn (Clathrus ruber)

Rarest: because of the lower frequency of sighting, according to The Global Fungal Red List Initiative
Weirdest Feature: Develops smell of death

The latticed stinkhorn, also called the basket stinkhorn, is so named because of its sponge-like, exterior that looks like a red cage. In addition to being extremely bizarre in appearance, the mushroom has a foul smell, which some compare to death, hence the name "stink." According to Treehugger, these red-headed mushrooms can be found in grassy areas, growing in leaf litter, garden soil, or mulch in hot climates like coastal North America and the Mediterranean.

Veiled Lady (Phallus indusiatus)

Rarest: because it is heavily foraged, prohibitively expensive in China, according to Atlas Obscura.
Weirdest Feature: Dramatic lacy skirt

The dramatic lacy skirt of a veiled lady mushroom draws the attention of foragers but insects are drawn to its slimy cap. It has a coating of greenish-brown slime on its cap that contains spores; this slime attracts insects and flies, which spread the spores. In southern Asia, Africa, Australia, and the Americas, reports of sightings of the delicate veiled lady have been made in gardens and woodlands.

Lion's Mane (Hericium erinaceus)

Rarest: because it is heavily foraged, prohibitively expensive in China
Weirdest Feature: Stringy appearance

This mushroom is known for its peculiar, stringy appearance and goes by a variety of names, including Satyr's Beard, Lion's Mane, hedgehog, bearded tooth, bearded hedgehog, and pom pom mushroom. Spines that radiate from a central point and cascade downward, resembling the yarn on a mop head, make up the "strings" that appear to be on the mushroom. Mushrooms with lion's manes are typically round and white in color. Lion's Mane is actually tooth fungi that thrive on hardwood trees in Asia, North America, and Europe, according to Treehugger.