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From today's featured article Phallus indusiatus, commonly called the bamboo fungus, bamboo pith, long net stinkhorn, crinoline stinkhorn or veiled lady, is a fungus in the family Phallaceae, or stinkhorns. It has a cosmopolitan distribution in tropical areas, and is found in southern Asia, Africa, the Americas, and Australia, where it grows in woodlands and gardens in rich soil and well-rotted woody material. The fruit body of the fungus is characterised by a conical to bell-shaped cap on a stalk and a delicate lacy "skirt", or indusium, that hangs from beneath the cap and reaches nearly to the ground. It was first described scientifically in 1798 by French botanist Étienne Pierre Ventenat. Mature fruit bodies are up to 25 cm (9.8 in) tall with a conical to bell-shaped cap that is 1.5–4 cm (0.6–1.6 in) wide. The edible mushroom, grown commercially and commonly sold in Asian markets, is rich in protein, carbohydrates, and dietary fiber. It also contains various bioactive compounds, and has antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. Phallus indusiatus has a recorded history of use in Chinese medicine extending back to the 7th century AD, and features in Nigerian folklore. (Full article...) Recently featured: Hurricane Debbie (1961) – Operation Teardrop – Ancient Egyptian deities Did you know... From Wikipedia's newest content: ... that van Gogh used his Sorrow (pictured) to express something of life's struggle? ... that the final version of the 33-metre-high (108 ft) Temple 33 at the ancient Maya city of Tikal in Guatemala was completely destroyed by archaeologists in 1965? ... that in the Glee episode "Wonder-ful", Katey Sagal appears as the mother of Kevin McHale's character Artie Abrams, months after McHale had suggested her for the role at a Comic-Con panel? ... that Friedrich Wilhelm Rust, who was able to play Bach's Das Wohltemperierte Clavier from memory as a teenager, studied composition with Bach's sons and the violin in Italy? ... that Cuthbert Christy was senior medical officer to the second battalion, West African Field Force in Northern Nigeria from 1898 to 1902? ... that "Buenos Amigos" was a career-launching song for American singer Selena, who recorded it as a duet with Alvaro Torres in 1991? ... that in 1941 the manager of Yeeda Station fatally shot himself by accident only to be replaced by a man who was arrested for cattle stealing? Today's articles for improvement Catchiness – Little John – Space Age More selections...

In the news The Kurdistan Workers' Party begins to leave Turkey following a ceasefire agreement. Roberto Azevêdo (pictured) is announced as the next Director-General of the World Trade Organization. Alex Ferguson, winner of 13 English Premier League titles as manager of Manchester United, announces his retirement. At least 23 people are killed when a tanker truck crashes and explodes outside Mexico City. The World Snooker Championship concludes with Ronnie O'Sullivan defeating Barry Hawkins to defend the title. The Barisan Nasional wins a majority in the Malaysian general election. Recent deaths: Bryan Forbes – Ray Harryhausen – Giulio Andreotti On this day... May 10: Mother's Day in El Salvador, Guatemala and Mexico; Constitution Day in the Federated States of Micronesia 1503 – Christopher Columbus and his crew became the first Europeans to visit the Cayman Islands, naming them Las Tortugas after the numerous sea turtles there. 1824 – The National Gallery in London opened to the public, in the former townhouse of the collector John Julius Angerstein. 1857 – The Sepoy Mutiny against the company rule by the British East India Company began. 1872 – Victoria Woodhull (pictured) became the first woman to be nominated as a candidate for President of the United States. 1916 – Ernest Shackleton and five companions completed one of history's greatest small-boat journeys when they arrived at South Georgia after an 800-nautical-mile (1,500 km) journey in a lifeboat. 1924 – J. Edgar Hoover became the director of the Bureau of Investigation, which would later become the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation. 1981 – François Mitterrand was elected to be the first socialist President of the French Fifth Republic. More anniversaries: May 9 – May 10 – May 11 It is now May 10, 2013 (UTC) – Reload this page

Today's featured picture Kiril Lazarov (b. 10 May 1980) is a Macedonian handball player active since 1991. He currently plays for Atlético Madrid and is also the captain of the Macedonia national handball team. Photo: Armin Kübelbeck Recently featured: Red-necked Stint – St Kilda Town Hall – Impala

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