Red cage
Clathrus ruber
The red cage starts as a whitish 'egg' half-buried in the ground. When it bursts, a red, hollow, latticed ball with polygonal meshes emerges. The olive slime inside smells of rotting meat and attracts flies, which spread the spores.
Where it's found
A decomposer found alone or in clusters near woody debris, in mulch beds, lawns, gardens and cultivated soil.
Distribution
Native to southern and central Europe, Macaronesia, western Türkiye, North Africa and western Asia; introduced elsewhere with imported mulch.
Similar species
Identification suggestions (from the community or from AI) and the information here may be wrong; this app never confirms that anything is safe to eat. Do not consume wild plants, mushrooms or seafood without expert confirmation. Nothing here is medical advice.