Fungi in the Forest: Stinkhorn Mushroom Hunt at Bukit Kerinchi

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Kerinchi Hill Forest Park, also known as Bukit Kerinchi, is a lovely urban oasis nestled in Lembah Pantai, Kuala Lumpur. This park is part of the Bukit Gasing Forest Reserve and it is a fantastic spot for jogging, hiking, or just hanging out with friends and family. Because of its natural beauty and amenities, it makes for a perfect venue for community events focused on raising awareness about fungi, as well as fostering appreciation and conservation efforts.

On April 5th, 2025, the Malaysian Nature Society Selangor Branch Mycology Special Interest Group (MNSSB Mycology Group) organized a fungi-guided walk themed “Stinkhorn Mushroom Hunt” at the forest park. The event was led by Loon Yit Hong and 23 members that consisted of fungi enthusiasts and citizen scientists. The team explored the main access trail which covered a total distance of approximately 4.0 kilometers.

The main goal of the event is to help the public understand, appreciate, and conserve fungi, with a special focus on the fascinating Phallaceae family of fungi. It also provides comprehensive education, innovative research and community engagement which makes mycology accessible to everyone.

MNSSB Mycology SIG Members : Group Leader Loon Yit Hong (11th from the left), Committee Members, Jacqueline Low (9th from the left), Lenny Wong (5th from the right), Chan Chee Keong (2nd from the left), Alexia Ng (6th from the left), Luca Pilia (8th from the left), volunteers and participants.

 

MNSSB Mycology SIG Members, volunteers and participants at the entrance of Bukit Kerinchi.

Material and Method

Survey Area and Data Collection

The survey area was conducted along the main access trail of Bukit Kerinchi. The 2.5 hours guided walk was conducted on April 5th, 2025.

Information about the Phallaceae family and other fungi (including identification, photos, coordinates, size measurements, description, and ecology) was documented and uploaded to the iNaturalist platform. Further accurate identification is verified by mycologist1 and expert2.

Results and Discussions

Despite the guided walk covering limited area and ended in approximate 2.5 hours, we made a lot of fungi observations (including a Phallus sp.) and they were successfully uploaded to iNaturalist platform.

Safety briefing and fungi knowledge sharing to the participants prior to the walk.





Fungi identification technique and photography knowledge sharing to members and participants.

Recorded Families, Genera, and Species

Our findings encompass a wide range of fungal families and genera as summarized followed.

Parasitic Fungi

·      Invade a living host and obtain nourishment, often causing damage to function and structure.

·     Parasitic fungi can affect plants and animals alike, with the most striking example being the Cordyceps genus. Fungi that live on tree hosts are also called phytopathogenic fungi.

·    The phytopathogenic fungi found in this foray is Rigidoporus microporus. It is a well-known fungal pathogen, causing white root disease on living trees.




Rigidoporus microporus on a young unknown tree as host.
(Photos by: Loon Yit Hong)

  Ectomycorrhizal Fungi (EMF)

·  Important part of forest ecosystem, and almost all trees can form symbiotic relationship with Ectomycorrhizal Fungi (EMF)

· EMF obtained carbon source (carbohydrates) from their plant host / partner. In return, they will provide water and mineral nutrition to their plant host

·    With their huge mycelia network, EMF able to access to the resources that is sometimes difficult to access by the plant roots.

·   The EMF fungi found in this foray is Entoloma sp. Some species in the genus are known to form ectomycorrhizal relationships with some trees while most species are saprotrophic (obtaining nutrients from dead organic matter).






Entoloma sp. (Pinkgills)
(Photos by: Loon Yit Hong & Luca Pilia)


Family Phallaceae (Stinkhorns)

Phallaceae (Stinkhorns) fungi are saprophytic fungi that thrive in places where organic matter is breaking down, like rotting wood, fallen leaves, mulch, or wood chips. They play a crucial role in forest ecosystems by breaking down this material and recycling nutrients for plants and trees.

The guided walk is called the “Stinkhorn Mushroom Hunt” because it’s quite rare to spot these mushrooms in the forest, making it a lucky find if you do. Most people aren’t familiar with them, aside from their rather unpleasant smell. The main aim of this event is to help everyone understand, appreciate, and conserve fungi, especially the intriguing Phallaceae family.





Phallus sp. (Pink Veil Stinkhorns) 
(Photo by: Loon Yit Hong & Luca Pilia)

Saprophytic Fungi

The largest group of fungi.
Grow on dead organic matter such as fallen trees, dead branches and leaves, cow patties, and even dead insects and animals.
Important role in the decomposition of organic matter and nutrition cycling, especially in nitrogen cycling.



A poisonous Clarkeinda trachodes that stains red on its stipe when scratched.
 (Photo by: Loon Yit Hong)



Clavaria sp. (Coral-like fungi) that bio-florescent blue under UV lights.
 (Photo by: Loon Yit Hong)





Pseudobaeospora lilacina that bio-florescent blue on its gills, yellow on its stipe context when cut, under UV lights.
 (Photos by: Loon Yit Hong)

Unknown mushrooms that bio-florescent blue on its gills but not on its stipe context when cut, under UV lights.
 (Photos by: Loon Yit Hong & Luca Pilia)



Laccaria sp.
 (Photos by: Loon Yit Hong & Jacqueline Low)





Gomphaceae family fungi, Climacodon dubitativus (Cauliflower-like Fungi) and Geastrum mirabile (Earthstars Fungi)
 (Photos by: Loon Yit Hong & Jacqueline Low)

Conclusions

The guided walk has documented rich fungi diversity in the forest despite surveying in a short period of time. By engaging with members and participants, the goal is to help the public understand, appreciate, and conserve fungi, particularly the fascinating Phallaceae family. It also provides comprehensive education, innovative research, and community engagement, which makes mycology accessible to everyone. 

Acknowledgement

Loon Yit Hong (Event Organizer and MNSSB Mycology Lead Coordinator)
 Jacqueline Low (MNSSB Mycology Committee Member)
Chan Chee Keong (MNSSB Mycology Committee Member)
Lenny Wong (MNSSB Mycology Committee Member)
Alexia Ng (MNSSB Mycology Committee Member)
1Luca Pilia (Mycologist & MNSSB Committee Member)
2Joseph Pallante (Amateur Mycologist)
Malaysian Nature Society Selangor Branch (MNSSB)
Event volunteers: Kho Wui Kiong, Khor Hong Beng, Jerry Yap and Tan Gim Siew.
Wong Wei Fong, Leong Hon Yuen, Yoke Moy, Ho Wai Kuan, Lee Wah Hung, Constant Teo, CK Than, Muhammad Farid, Lee Chong Ho, Hairul Abdullah, Lucy Wong Zi Ni,  Ammar Rahimin and their families participated in the event.
Hi, I'm Loon, a fungi enthusiast who loves exploring, discovering, and hunting mushrooms. Reading and studying about fungi keeps my curiosity alive about the wonders of nature.

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