Stinkhorn mushrooms (Phallus impudicus) growing in woodland soil. These are the fruiting bodies of this fungus, which feeds on decaying vegetable matt
Stinkhorn mushrooms (Phallus impudicus) growing in woodland soil. These are the fruiting bodies of this fungus, which feeds on decaying vegetable matter such as rotting wood. Stinkhorns develop from an egg-like object which is connected to the rest of the fungus by white strands. As the hollow stalk (white) grows, it ruptures the gelatinous outer layer (brown) and raises a bell-shaped head up to 25 centimetres above the ground. The head is covered in a foul-smelling slime which gives this mushroom its name. Flies are attracted to the slime and they disperse the spores it contains. Photographed in Israel in January
Size: 8192px × 5464px
Location: Israel
Photo credit: © Alon Meir / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
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