What's This Thing in My Yard?
Every spring I get a few contacts about a strange object in someone’s yard. Sometimes a photo is sent and other times just a description. Because it is so unusual, it is easy to identify with or without a photo. It’s a type of fungus called a stinkhorn, of which there are several species. The one that is commonly reported from Missouri is the “elegant stinkhorn.” Although related to mushrooms, puffballs and shelf fungi, it is different enough from those groups that observers often don’t recognize it as a fungus.
It grows as a narrow, pink to orange tube that is 6 to 7 inches long and tapers to a blunt point. At the tip of the hollow tube is a greenish-brown slime, which contains the reproductive spores. The stinkhorn’s foul-smelling odor attracts flies, which eat the slime and spores and also pick it up on their feet. They spread the spores when they fly off. Although stinkhorns do have a disagreeable odor, I’ve had to get my nose close to them to smell it.
This stinkhorn can be found in lawns or in woods or cultivated fields. Most of the reports I’ve received were from lawns or flower beds in urban areas. I’ve had them in the grass of my own lawn a couple of times, appearing overnight when the ground is moist and disappearing after a day or two. Like mushrooms, they don’t necessarily reappear again in the same location.
Stinkhorns are a good reminder of the diversity in the natural world--something odd that we didn’t know existed. Several observers have remarked to me that they’ve lived many years and have never seen one before. Keep your eyes open--there may be something new to you just outside!
MDC's Mission, Vision, Priorities
MDC protects and manages Missouri's fish, forest, and wildlife resources.
We also facilitate your participation in resource-management activities, and we provide opportunities for you to use, enjoy and learn about nature.
Comments
On November 6th, 2010 at 10:08pm Frenceso Emiliano said:
On October 4th, 2010 at 9:55am smitht2 said:
On October 2nd, 2010 at 4:23am Susan "Nail Fungus Cure" Adams said:
On September 12th, 2010 at 1:14pm Charlie Wolber said:
On August 27th, 2010 at 11:51am Shirley Treadway said:
On August 25th, 2010 at 4:06pm smitht2 said:
On August 25th, 2010 at 12:39pm Anonymous said: