Rain brought the Stinkhorn to life! This is my first experience with Stinkhorns. However, unusual these fungi are, information about them is scarce. Read on to find out what I found.

General Information about Stinkhorn Fungi

First, stinkhorn fungi are found in leaf debris, fields, and rotting wood. Unless they are full grown, you have to be very observant to find them. The ones in these photos reside in a large field. They are very easy to walk right past.

Second, I’m pretty sure that these are mutinus elegans, however I am not 100% sure. Supposedly, these are relatively easy to identify without looking at their spores. Consequently, you don’t have to be an expert just to look and guess. You do have to be an expert to consume.

Third, stinkhorns are saprobiotic. This means that they feed on decaying organic matter, they digest their food through excretion of digestive enzymes, and they don’t require oxygen to feed.

Finally, as the name implies, they smell foul.

 

What does it look like?

These fungi are rather small, I mean ½ to 1 inch in diameter and 4 – 7” tall. The ones in the photos are on the smaller side. Interestingly, the part that is seen above ground Is actually a reproductive organ!

Specifically, the part above ground is small, cylindrical and tapered. They are an orangish, pinkish, tangerine color with a small portion of the cylindrical covered with a brown slime. The brown slime contains the spores. It attracts flies and other insects that help disperse the spores. They have a round opening at the top. They have a white base.

The base is edible. Unfortunately, there is a poisonous look alike called the Deadly Amanitas. Similarly, it also has a white bulbous base that looks just like the stinkhorn. As a result, and as always, you should never eat nor handle fungi unless you are absolutely sure of its identification.

 

 

If you would like to learn more, try one of these resources.

Missouri Department of Conservation

Elegant Stinkhorn | Missouri Department of Conservation (mo.gov)

Mushroom Expert

Mutinus elegans (MushroomExpert.Com)

Healing Mushrooms

Mutinus Elegans: The Elegant Stinkhorn Identification & Info (healing-mushrooms.net)