Stinkhorn Fungus Phallus impudicus Phallaceae Covered in Pollinating Flies
Phallus impudicus, commonly known as the common stinkhorn, is a widespread fungus recognizable for its foul odour and its phallic shape when mature, the latter feature giving rise to several amusing names in 17th century England. It is a common mushroom in Europe and North America where it occurs in habitats rich in wood debris such as forests and mulched gardens. It appears from summer to late autumn. The fruiting structure is tall and white with a slimy dark olive coloured conical head. Despite its foul smell it is not poisonous and is consumed when young in parts of France and Germany. The Phallaceae or stinkhorns are a family of basidiomycetes which produce a foul scented phallus shaped mushroom. They belong to the order Phallales. Their method of reproduction is different than most mushrooms which use the air to spread their spores. Stinkhorns instead produce a sticky spore mass on their tip which has an odor of carrion dung or other things that attract flies. The flies land on the stinkhorn and in doing so collect the spore mass on their legs and carry it to other locations.
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Location: UK
Photo credit: © Naturepix / Alamy / Afripics
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