Species map · Clathrus ruber
Red cage fungus map of Turkey: where and when it grows
Our map holds 128 verified records of the red cage fungus (Clathrus ruber) from 13 provinces of Turkey. Most come from İstanbul, Muğla, Samsun and Sinop; records peak in April, May and October.
- records
- 128
- provinces
- 13
- regions
- 4
- latest record
- Oct 2026
Records by province
- İstanbul104
- Muğla6
- Samsun2
- Sinop2
- Kocaeli2
- Balıkesir2
- Ordu2
- Aydın2
- Antalya2
- Bursa1
- Sakarya1
- İzmir1
- Osmaniye1
- Marmara 110
- Aegean 9
- Black Sea 6
- Mediterranean 3
Linked provinces have their own page with every species recorded there. Record density also reflects where observers work.
Which months?
This page covers only where and when the species is recorded in Turkey. For identification and edibility, see the species page. Built from research-grade, geo-referenced GBIF and iNaturalist records, refreshed at the start of every month.
Poisonous look-alikes of the red cage fungus
- Death cap Amanita phalloides Deadly poisonous
Records by region: Marmara 110; Aegean 9; Black Sea 6; Mediterranean 3. Most records come from İstanbul, Muğla, Samsun, Sinop, Kocaeli, Balıkesir, Ordu and Aydın.
Records peak in April, May and October; about 28% of dated records fall in September–November and 50% in March–May.
The red cage fungus appears in mild, damp weather. Turkish records are spread across the year but peak in April–May and October–December.
In leaf litter, mulch, wood chips and garden soil; in parks, gardens, roadsides and coastal groves. It is common in Mediterranean climates and appears singly or in small groups.
Death cap (Amanita phalloides, deadly): The death cap's egg is white too. Cut lengthwise, a death cap egg shows the outline of cap, gills and stem; a red cage egg shows jelly and a red lattice. Never eat any egg-shaped fungus without cutting it open.
Common stinkhorn (Phallus impudicus, inedible): From the same family; it also hatches from a white egg and smells of carrion, but matures into a tall white stem with a dark head instead of a cage.
Common puffball (Lycoperdon perlatum, edible): At the egg stage the red cage looks like a white ball. A puffball cut lengthwise is white and uniform all through; a red cage egg shows jelly and the outline of the red lattice.
Devil's fingers (Clathrus archeri, inedible): Instead of a cage, four to seven red arms open from the egg like an octopus.
Frequently asked questions
Where does the red cage fungus grow in Turkey?
Most records come from İstanbul, Muğla, Samsun, Sinop and Kocaeli.
When does the red cage fungus fruit in Turkey?
Records peak in April, May and October.
Which province has the most red cage fungus records?
İstanbul, followed by Muğla, Samsun and Sinop. The order also reflects where observers are active.
What habitat does the red cage fungus prefer?
In leaf litter, mulch, wood chips and garden soil; in parks, gardens, roadsides and coastal groves. It is common in Mediterranean climates and appears singly or in small groups.
Can I pick mushrooms where they are recorded?
A record is not a permit. Commercial picking in state forests needs a permit; picking in national parks is prohibited.
How current is this map?
Records are re-fetched from GBIF and iNaturalist at the start of every month and this page updates automatically.
What should I do in case of mushroom poisoning?
Call 112 at once; Turkey's poison centre is 114.
Sources
- 6831 sayılı Orman Kanunu (mevzuat.gov.tr) mevzuat.gov.tr
- 2873 sayılı Millî Parklar Kanunu, md. 14 (mevzuat.gov.tr) mevzuat.gov.tr
- GBIF ve iNaturalist: Türkiye gözlem kayıtları (sitemizin haritası) gbif.org
All sources (6)
- Wikipedia (EN): Clathrus ruber en.wikipedia.org
- First Nature: Clathrus ruber first-nature.com
- iNaturalist: Clathrus ruber (Türkçe ad ve Türkiye gözlemleri) inaturalist.org
Data sources and licences
Observations from GBIF.org (human observations and herbarium specimens; records flagged with geospatial issues excluded) and iNaturalist research-grade records, retrieved 2 November 2026. Macrofungi only (Agaricomycetes, Pezizomycetes), named to species. Every point links to its own record, with the recorder and licence (CC0, CC BY, CC BY-NC).
Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors. Province centres: Wikidata. Region comes from the record's GADM province, or the nearest province centre when missing. For protected species (iNaturalist "threatened" or IUCN VU/EN/CR) locations are rounded to ~10 km; locations obscured by iNaturalist are marked "approximate".
An observation shows that a mushroom was seen there on that day, not that it is there now or that it may be picked. Counts reflect how many people record fungi in an area more than how common a species is.
Last updated: Prepared by the Poros Mantar editorial teamReport a correction