Phallus impudicus, the Common Stinkhorn, emerges from an 'egg'
beneath the surface. The cap is initially covered with olive-green 'gleba',
a smelly coating that attracts insects which in turn distribute the
spores.
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It is fairly easy to find the 'eggs' of this species,
because they are usually only partly buried in pine needles or leaf letter
and the white skin stands out clearly.
Eggs of the common stinkhorn can be found at any time of year, but they
usually lie dormant until the summer months. |
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Within the egg the fruitbody develops. In this picture the
stipe material is in the central column and the gleba, which bears
the spores, surrounds it. The honeycomb texture of the cap beneath the
gleba is also visible at this stage.
If the eggs are gathered early enough, while their contents are white,
their contents are edible. Stinkhorns are not much sought after, however,
as there are many more attractive edible fungi. |
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As soon as the cap emerges from the egg, insects attack it
and eat the gleba. Some of the sticky gleba adheres to the legs of the
insects, and that is how the spores get carried from one location to
another.
Note the honeycomb texture of the cap beneath the gleba.
To find specimens in pristine conditions, you really need to visit the
woods at dawn, before the flies have found any new stinkhorns that have
burst from their eggs during the night. |
| This is a very common woodland species and easy
to find: just follow your nose! |
Description
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Beneath the sticky olive-green gleba coating,
the cap of the Common Stinkhorn has a raised honeycomb structure. This is
all that many people ever see of the cap of this fungus because insects
very quickly eat the spore-bearing gleba, at the same time getting some of
it stuck to their legs so that spores get transported over quite large
distances as the insects fly off in search of food elsewhere.
Early morning is the best time to look (or sniff) for this very smelly
species. |
Dimensions |
Typically 15 to 25 cm tall; stipe diameter 2 to 4cm; cap 2.5 to 5 cm
across. |
Other features |
The 'egg' is typically 4 to 8 cm in diameter,
gradually becoming elongated until it ruptures and the stipe emerges very
quickly, bearing the gleba-coated cap aloft.
At the egg stage this fungus is edible, but it is not greatly valued as
a source of food (except by flies!). |
Stipe |
The white stipe has a texture and appearance of expanded polystyrene; it
persists for several days after the gleba has been consumed by insects. |
Spores |
The slimy gleba, which is dark olive, contains
yellow spores. |
Odour/taste |
A strong, unpleasant odour; no distinctive
taste. |
Habitat |
Found in all kinds of woodland, but
particularly common in coniferous forests; invariably near to dead tree
stumps or other sources of rotting timber. |
Season |
June to October. |
Occurrence |
Very common. |
Similar species |
- Mutinus caninus, the Dog Stinkhorn, is much smaller and has
a weaker odour; its honeycombed cap surface is orange rather than white beneath the gleba.
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