13 October 2006 Buckinghamshire. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. Common Name Dog Stinkhorn Fruiting Body Egg shaped when young, then upright, cylindrical, white to yellow, head reddish and coated in a foul smelling and sticky spore laden greenish slime, about 10 to 12 cm high by about 1 to 1.5 cm across Smell Unpleasant, faecal, rather faint Taste Unknown Season Summer to autumn Distribution Common Habitat In deciduous and, less commonly, coniferous woods. Also in parks and gardens mulched with wood chips. Microscopic Features Spores ellipsoidal, smooth (4-5) x (1-2) µm2 Edibility Inedible Notes The spores are spread by flies which feed on the green slime. 
21 October 2006 Hampshire. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. 
18 October 2008 West Sussex. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. |