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Old 02-11-2010, 05:48 PM posted to uk.rec.gardening
Rusty Hinge[_2_] Rusty Hinge[_2_] is offline
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First recorded activity by GardenBanter: Dec 2009
Posts: 871
Default weird looking mushroom

wrote:
Hi,
I have been lurking in this group for about six months but have
not been able to offer any gardening advice I'm afraid but I have
learnt a lot and enjoy reading the group anyway.

I have a query on identifying the following mushroom type via the
photo, it has unfortunately fallen over as you can see the green
head or cap on the ground in the photo image.

http://stephen.hull.mediacave.co.uk/example/mroom1.jpg
http://stephen.hull.mediacave.co.uk/example/mroom2.jpg

The mushroom? was standing tall last night but this morning it
appeared to be damaged or perhaps eaten. It smells very strongly
of honey but not sure if this particular mushroom will or can
effect other plants trees etc, any help gratefully received.


Stinkhorn - Phallus impudicus - grows from what looks and feels like a
'soft-shelled' egg (which is edible, but not generally raved-over).

The horn grows rapidly, and the cap smells of honey at first, but as the
cap ripens, the spores (on the outside of the cap) and the goo that they
are amongst 'mature' and said goo smells like a cross between a rotting
carcase and a ripe turd - foul enough to attract swarms of flies, which
devour the goo and get spores stuck to their feet, and these they
distribute about the next meal...

The horn part of the fungus is also edible, and is collected in France
(where else?), dried, and can be bought for considerable sums in delis.

No, I haven't tried these either.

--
Rusty