Phallus indusiatus, commonly called the bamboo fungus, bamboo pith, long net stinkhorn, crinoline stinkhorn or veiled lady, is a fungus in the family Phallaceae, or stinkhorns. It has a cosmopolitan distribution in tropical areas, and is found in southern Asia, Africa, the Americas, and Australia, where it grows in woodlands and gardens in rich soil and well-rotted woody material. The fruit body of the fungus is characterised by a conical to bell-shaped cap on a stalk and a delicate lacy "skirt", or indusium, that hangs from beneath the cap and reaches nearly to the ground. It was first described scientifically in 1798 by French botanist Étienne Pierre Ventenat. Mature fruit bodies are up to 25 cm (9.8 in) tall with a conical to bell-shaped cap that is 1.5–4 cm (0.6–1.6 in) wide. The edible mushroom, grown commercially and commonly sold in Asian markets, is rich in protein, carbohydrates, and dietary fiber. It also contains various bioactive compounds, and has antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. Phallus indusiatus has a recorded history of use in Chinese medicine extending back to the 7th century AD, and features in Nigerian folklore.
Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phallus_indusiatus
_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:
1503:
Christopher Columbus and his crew became the first Europeans to visit the Cayman Islands, naming them Las Tortugas after the numerous sea turtles there. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cayman_Islands
1857:
The Sepoy Mutiny against the company rule by the British East India Company began. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Rebellion_of_1857
1872:
Victoria Woodhull became the first woman to be nominated as a candidate for President of the United States. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victoria_Woodhull
1916:
Ernest Shackleton and five companions completed one of history's greatest small-boat journeys when they arrived at South Georgia after an 800-nautical-mile (1,500 km) journey in a lifeboat. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voyage_of_the_James_Caird
1924:
J. Edgar Hoover became the director of the Bureau of Investigation, which would later become the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._Edgar_Hoover
1981:
François Mitterrand was elected to be the first socialist President of the French Fifth Republic. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fran%C3%A7ois_Mitterrand
_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:
cymotrichous: (anthropology) Having wavy hair. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/cymotrichous
___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:
It seemed — in 1968 — the possibilities of peace and brotherhood could be realised that very year. We're still working on it. --Donovan https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Donovan