Mutinus caninus - Dog Stinkhorn

Taxonomy

Phylum: Basidiomycota

Class: Agaricomycetes

Order: Phallales

Mutinus caninus, the Dog Stinkhorn, is harder to find than the Common Stinkhorn, Phallus impudicus, because it is rather less smelly and much less widespread in its distribution. This is also a much smaller fruitbody.

The many kinds of stinkhorn fungi that occur worldwide, plus various puffballs, earthballs, earthstars, stiltballs and the like have long been grouped together in an entirely artificial taxonomic class, the gasteromycetes.

Identification Guide

	Description The 'egg' from which the Dog Stinkhorn develops is usually almost completely buried and difficult to find until the stipe emerges from the egg - unlike the Common Stinkhorn, Phallus impudicus, whose eggs develop with much more exposed above ground. The cap is honeycombed beneath the gleba (a shiny, sticky coating that contains the spores). Once insects have consumed the dark olive gleba, the tip of the fungus turns orange and then the whole fruitbody decays rapidly: there is usually nothing left within three or four days.
Dimensions	Typically 8 to 15cm tall; stipe diameter 1 to 1.5cm.
Other features	The volva-like remains of the 'egg' often appear above the ground once the fruitbody is fully developed.
Stem	The white stipe has a texture and appearance of expanded polystyrene and is barely strong enough to support the small, half-egg-shaped head with its coating of sticky olive gleba.
Spores	The gleba, which is dark olive, contains pale yellow spores.
Odour/taste	Unpleasant odour, but not as strong as that of the Common Stinkhorn, Phallus impudicus.
Habitat	Found growing in small groups in coniferous forests, usually close to rotting stumps.
Season	July to early October.
Occurrence	Fairly common.
Similar species	Phallus impudicus, the Common Stinkhorn, is much larger and has a stronger odour; its honeycombed cap surface is white rather than orange beneath the gleba.