Are they edible?

Those pesky stinkhorns sure are conversation-starters! I’ve had several people ask if they are edible, and the answer seems to be “Yes,” and “No.” Tom Volk’s  “Fungus of the Month” article says that they are, with certain cooking techniques. Another source, “Wildman” Steve Brill found them to be revolting, even when cooked in broth. The totally amazing 2006 BBC series Planet Earth had a time lapse video of a Netted Stinkhorn’s growth. I’d love to embed the video, but the embedding is disabled. Click this link, or better yet, watch Planet Earth. I came across a discussion on this topic at GardenWeb. I was glad to see at least one gardener recognized that they are harmless, interesting mushrooms. Just think of them as “fun-guy!” Thanks for all the comments and photos!

Even more stinkhorns!

Just received this photo from Gine421! Gin, I think your little prize might be Phallus ravenelii, the Common Stinkhorn. See the comments on today's post below. Thanks for sharing Gin--I think!

Or are you just glad to see me?

A garden is a world unto itself, it had better make room for the darker shades of feeling as well as the sunny ones. William Kent

Deep in the dark heart of my rain garden, a monster had been waiting, biding its time, till this cool summer morning to burst forth—a monster so vile, it has earned the name “The Stinkhorn!” The Dog Stinkhorn (Mutinus caninus), to be exact. Its genus name comes from a Roman god of fertility—a fellow with the unbelievable handle of “Mutunus Tutunus.” The scientific name indicates its resemblance to human—actually, in this case, canine—anatomy, but what about the English name? Even though I was close enough to take the photo, I wasn’t aware of an odor.

Stinkhorn is a fungus; less than 5 inches tall, but attention getting nonetheless. The cap is slimy, dark yellow-green. I learned that the cap is where the plant holds it spores, that is, the fungal equivalent of seeds. To distribute its spores, the fungus recruits flies, drawing them in with its delectable—to flies—aroma. Evidently, flies have better sense of smell than I. I took these pictures about 7:00 AM. Before noon most of the mushrooms had liquefied and almost disappeared. On warmer mornings, stinkhorns visible at 8:00 were gone by 9:00. References tell me that stinkhorns are common fungi, but these are the first I have ever found. Look for them where there’s shade and plenty of dead plant material. But don’t expect Sr. Mary Ignatius to appreciate the photos.