Human-Shaped Fungus Grows in England

A human-shaped mushroom species has been discovered on the side of a road in Norfolk, England.

Jonathan Revett, a mycology hobbyist for over 40 years and owner of fenfungi.com, found the mushroom and sent a specimen in for analysis after noticing its unique, humanoid shape.

Naturally seeming to possess a “head” and “arms”, the fragile stalk can split in two, creating the “legs” – which has caused some to compare the mushroom to a fisherman, or a “hat villain”, wearing a poncho.

The species has been named Geastrum britannicum, a new type of Earthstar mushroom; which means that locomotion isn’t actually out of the question. The fruit bodies of several Earthstar species are known to dry out and curl around the ‘shroom’s delicate spore sac. In this state, the fungus will detach from the ground and roll off toward new, moister pastures, like tumbleweeds. One such species, Sphaerobolus stellatus, is commonly referred to as the “shotgun” or “cannonball” fungus, as it’s capable of throwing black spore-globs on painted surfaces and ruining homes.

This tumbling humanoid fungus is both inedible and highly poisonous—not unlike aTriffid’s deadly sting. So stay away. “There’s no sense in getting killed by a fungus!"