Stinkhorns are a type of fungus which produce a foul-scented, rod-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. These land on the stinkhorn, getting the spore mass on their legs and inadvertently carrying it to other locations.

It is unknown whether most stinkhorns are edible or not. Few people have the urge to consume such small, foul-smelling mushrooms.

Stinkhorns develop from round structures called 'eggs', which do not stink. They can be seen in the photograph of Mutinus elegans and also in the following photo which shows one cut in half. You can see the whole mature fruiting body compressed into the 'egg' and ready to expand into its adult state.

Species:

• Phallus impudicus, The Common Stinkhorn[1]
• Phallus hadriani, (sometimes considered as a subspicies of Phallus impudicus)
• Phallus ravenilii [2]