Spongiforma squarepantsii

🏷️ Description

This delightful fungus, discovered in 2010 and officially described in 2011 by mycologists Dennis Desjardin, Kabir Peay, and Thomas Bruns, is a marvel of nature that blurs the line between land and sea. Found in the tropical rainforests of Borneo, its vibrant pale orange color and sponge-like, rubbery texture make Spongiforma squarepantsii seem more suited to a coral reef than a forest floor. Its form, reminiscent of a sea sponge, springs back into shape when squeezed, a trait that makes it uniquely mesmerizing.

Under the microscope, the fruiting body reveals a fascinating surface of deep ridges, irregular cavities, and a spore-producing tissue that resembles a seafloor adorned with tube sponges. The reddish-brown, warty spores are housed within these cavities, ready to disperse with the help of curious animals, drawn perhaps by its fruity or musty scent.

Named after the beloved cartoon character SpongeBob SquarePants, this fungus combines whimsy with scientific intrigue, proving that even the fungal world has a sense of humor.

🍽️ Edibility: Unknown—its quirky looks are better appreciated than eaten!

⚡ Fun Fact: The name squarepantsii was initially rejected as "frivolous," but the researchers persisted, and now it’s an icon of whimsical science!

🔎 Identification

🧽 Appearance:

• Shape: Sponge-like and rubbery, reminiscent of a sea sponge!

• Color: Vibrant pale orange, transforming to purple when touched with potassium hydroxide (KOH).

• Size: Typically 3–5 cm (1.2–2 inches) wide and 2–3 cm (0.8–1.2 inches) tall.

• Surface: Covered with deep ridges, folds, and irregular cavities, resembling a tiny brain or a porous sponge.

🧪 Fascinating Features:

• Water Absorption: Squeeze it, and it bounces back to shape, just like a real sponge!

• Spores: Reddish-brown to mahogany, almond-shaped, and warty, measuring 10–12.5 μm by 6–7 μm.

• Microscopic Magic: The hymenium, under scanning electron microscopy, looks like a seabed with tube sponges—fitting for a SpongeBob namesake!

👃 Smell: A mix of fruity and musty, suggesting animal involvement in spore dispersal.

🎨 Family and Relatives:

• Belongs to the genus Spongiforma and the family Boletaceae.

• Closely related to Spongiforma thailandica, which is larger, brownish, and smells of coal tar.

🌎 Ecology and Habitat: Thrives in tropical dipterocarp rainforests, reviving quickly after drying out by absorbing moisture from the air. Found exclusively in the lush rainforests of Lambir Hills National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia, on the island of Borneo. This tropical paradise sees heavy rainfall and warm temperatures, perfect for this unique fungus.