In the yard I found a slimy, reddish creature that emanated an unpleasant smell: I was horrified when I realized that it was

A homeowner was left horrified after discovering a strange, red, tentacled growth in their flowerbed — later identified as Anthurus archeri, or the “devil’s fingers” fungus.

Native to Australia but now found worldwide, the eerie mushroom emerges from a white, egg-like sac before unfurling bright red, finger-shaped arms coated in a foul-smelling black slime. The stench mimics rotting flesh, luring flies that spread its spores.

Though harmless, the fungus’s unsettling look and odor often spark panic among gardeners who mistake it for decaying flesh or something alien. Experts say the fungus is simply nature’s clever — and creepy — way of reproducing.