In message
Rusty Hinge wrote:

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).

I can understande why they are called stink horn, they really do
stink.

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...

There was a definite smell of honey, and there's evidence of at
least six other stinkhorns in the same area of the garden but
these have only left the base ATM.

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.

Disgusting IMO.

Cheers,

Stephen.


--
http://www.stephen.hull.btinternet.co.uk
Coach painting tips and techniques + Land Rover colour codes
"Whatever is rightly done, however humble, is noble". Henry Royce