The bell-shaped fungus is a type of high-stemmed mushroom, with a jelly-like body resembling a veil made of transparent silk. Because of this, botanists have named it “the veiled lady.” It is currently the only plant whose growth can be observed with the naked eye.
“The veiled lady” grows in the dense forests of Brazil, South America. Initially, it appears like a bird’s egg, covered by a resilient skin. As it grows, the body swells, and soon after, the “egg” develops a small crack. This crack gradually widens, causing the “egg” to split in two, revealing a bright yellow umbrella with a white stem. The stem grows rapidly, reaching about 5mm in height every minute. At this point, the mushroom cap becomes visible. Within two hours, it can grow up to approximately 50cm tall.
Subsequently, a translucent white veil descends from the mushroom cap, almost touching the ground, resembling a bell-shaped dress that completely covers the stem. At the same time, an incredibly foul odor emanates, attracting flies and other insects that swarm around.
The bell-shaped fungus has a short life span; it quickly disintegrates, leaving behind only a mass of slime.
(Image: houby.humlak)
