Laura Smith
Stinkhorn mushrooms, scientifically known as Phallus impudicus, are renowned for their distinct anatomy and strong odour. They are part of a large family of fungi with many subtypes and appearances, ranging from horn-like structures to those with appendages that result in a squid-like appearance. Stinkhorn mushrooms are not poisonous and are edible in their egg stage, with a taste similar to water chestnuts and a mild radish flavour. They are believed to have aphrodisiac properties and are revered in Asia. However, their mature form is avoided due to its putrid smell, which has been compared to the scent of decomposing flesh or sewage. Despite their offensive odour, stinkhorn mushrooms play an essential role in decomposing wood and improving soil quality.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Scientific name | Phallus impudicus |
| Common names | Stinkhorn mushroom, stinky horn mushroom, witch's egg, pricke mushroom, fungus virilis penis effigie, Hollanders workingtoole, devil's dipstick, ghost penis fungus |
| Appearance | Phallic-looking, whitish or pinkish, egg-shaped, with a thick whitish volva or peridium, olive-colored gelatinous gleba, green layer, white structure called the receptaculum, red or pink latticed stalks, floppy or wrinkled cap, black pitted and ridged surface, squid-like appendages, mesh attached below the cap |
| Odor | Putrid, offensive, foul, sickly-sweet, decomposing flesh, sewage, dung, excrement, rotting |
| Edibility | Edible in the egg stage, not edible in the full-grown stage due to strong odor and appearance |
| Toxicity | Not poisonous, no human fatalities recorded |
| Veterinary toxicity | Dogs have shown gastric irritation after ingestion |
| Distribution | Europe, North America, Asia (China, Taiwan, India), Costa Rica, Iceland, Tanzania, Southeast Australia |
| Habitat | Wood chips, leaf mulch |
| Seasonality | Spring and summer, during cool and wet weather |
| Ecological associations | Badger (Meles meles) setts, blow-flies (Calliphora and Lucilla) |
| Cultural significance | Revered as an aphrodisiac in some cultures, fed to bulls before mating, considered offensive by some and burned to protect the morals of maids |
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What You'll Learn
Stinkhorn mushrooms are not psychedelic, but they are foul-smelling
Stinkhorn mushrooms, scientifically known as Phallus impudicus, are renowned for their distinct anatomy and strong odour. They are not psychedelic, but they are foul-smelling.
The stinkhorn mushroom starts as an egg-shaped bulbous structure with a white, smooth surface. As it matures, the cap and stipe expand and elongate rapidly from the egg. The latticed stalks can be white, red, or pink, and the mushroom expands skyward to a height of 6-8 inches very quickly, within minutes. The cap on top has a round opening and is covered with a sticky, clear, green, or black slimy substance called the 'spore mass' or 'gleba'. This slime contains thousands of spores and has a sweet yet pungent, "rotting-flesh" or "sewage" smell. The foul odour is caused by a host of volatile compounds, including methanethiol, hydrogen sulfide, linalool, trans-ocimene, phenylacetaldehyde, dimethyl sulfide, and dimethyl trisulfide.
The stinkhorn mushroom is not poisonous and is edible in its egg stage, when it is said to have a mild radish or hazelnut flavour. However, the mature mushroom is avoided due to its strong stench. The mushroom's smell attracts flies and other insects, which feed on the slime and then deposit liquid faeces that contain the spores. This is an effective method of spore distribution, ensuring the survival of stinkhorn mushrooms.
Stinkhorn mushrooms have a suggestive appearance, resembling male genitalia. They have been given names such as "pricke mushroom," "devil's dipstick," and "ghost penis fungus." Some cultures consider them aphrodisiacs, and they are fed to bulls before mating. However, a scientific study found that the smell did not arouse women or induce orgasms.
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They are edible in their egg stage, but not when mature
Stinkhorn mushrooms, scientifically known as Phallus impudicus, are notorious for their phallic appearance and putrid odour. They are edible in their egg stage, but not when mature.
Stinkhorn mushrooms start as egg-shaped structures with a smooth white surface. They are nestled shallowly within the ground, and the mushroom is essentially formed but compacted within the egg. The egg stage is very brief, and the mushroom rapidly expands into its final shape. The egg, or volva, is the first part of the mushroom to emerge and can be consumed. It has been described as having a crunchy texture, similar to water chestnuts, with a mild radish or hazelnut flavour. It can be eaten raw and added to salads, stews, and noodle soups.
However, once the mushroom matures and ruptures, it becomes unappealing and inedible. The mature stinkhorn has a height of 10 to 30 cm and a diameter of 4 to 5 cm. It is topped with a conical cap covered in a greenish-brown slimy substance called the gleba. This slime has a sharp, sickly-sweet odour of carrion, which attracts flies and other insects. The odour has been described as putrid, offensive, and foul, resembling the smell of rotting flesh or sewage.
The stinkhorn mushroom's distinctive aroma is due to the presence of volatile compounds, particularly dimethyl sulphides, within the gleba. While the mushroom is not poisonous, its foul odour and reports of gastric irritation in dogs who have ingested it make it unpalatable when mature.
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Stinkhorns are believed to have aphrodisiac properties
Stinkhorn mushrooms, scientifically known as Phallus impudicus, are renowned for their distinct anatomy and strong odour. They are believed to have aphrodisiac properties and are revered in Asia. Some cultures consider these mushrooms to be aphrodisiacs and even feed them to bulls before they mate. In Hawaii, an indigenous variety of stinkhorns was called "the women's mushroom" and believed to be a female aphrodisiac. A group of scientists tested this hypothesis in 2001, but most of the women in the study group found the smell repulsive rather than arousing.
Stinkhorns are not known to be poisonous and are edible in their egg stage, when they are said to have a crunch similar to water chestnuts and a mild radish flavour. However, their fully grown form is considered too stinky for consumption. The mushroom's powerful and putrid odour is produced by a host of volatile compounds, including dimethyl sulphides and dimethyl trisulphide, which attract flies and other insects that help in spore dispersal.
Stinkhorn mushrooms have a distinctive appearance, with some varieties growing appendages that result in a squid-like look, while others have a fantastical mesh attached below their cap, resembling a bridal veil. They are usually whitish or pinkish in their immature egg stage and turn olive-coloured with a greenish-brown slimy gleba when mature. The mature stinkhorn can grow to a height of 10 to 30 cm, with a diameter of 4 to 5 cm.
The name Phallus impudicus was given by Linnaeus in 1753, meaning "immodest phallus", due to the mushroom's resemblance to male genitals. Over the years, it has had various descriptive names, such as "pricke mushroom", "devil's dipstick", and "Hollanders workingtoole". Charles Darwin's daughter was known to burn these mushrooms to protect the morals of maids, and the Iban people of New Guinea associated them with a decapitated warrior, believing that cutting the stinkhorn would incur the warrior's wrath.
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They are not poisonous and help decompose wood
Stinkhorn mushrooms are not poisonous and play a beneficial role in ecosystems by aiding in the decomposition of wood. While they may be known for their distinctive phallic shape and putrid odour, which serves to attract insects that help disperse their spores, stinkhorn mushrooms are not toxic to humans. In fact, these unique fungi are nature's recyclers, contributing significantly to the breakdown and decomposition of wood and other organic matter.
The role of stinkhorn mushrooms in wood decomposition is a natural and essential process in any ecosystem. As the mushrooms grow, they secrete enzymes that break down the complex structures of wood, including cellulose and lignin. This process helps to soften and degrade the wood, facilitating its decomposition and the release of nutrients back into the soil. By feeding on and breaking down dead or decaying wood, stinkhorn mushrooms contribute to the natural recycling of organic matter.
The presence of stinkhorn mushrooms in an ecosystem can have several positive effects. Firstly, their ability to decompose wood helps accelerate the natural process of decay, ensuring that organic matter is efficiently broken down and recycled. This, in turn, enhances soil fertility by increasing the availability of nutrients for other plants and organisms in the ecosystem. Additionally, the decomposition of wood by stinkhorn mushrooms can create new habitats and microenvironments, providing shelter and food sources for a diverse range of organisms, from insects to smaller fungi and bacteria.
Stinkhorn mushrooms achieve this decomposition through their mycelial network, a mass of thread-like hyphae that grows within the wood. These hyphae secrete enzymes that break down the complex polymers that make up wood, such as cellulose and lignin. The enzymes facilitate the decomposition process by attacking and breaking down these complex molecules into simpler substances that can be absorbed and utilized by the fungus as food. This process not only helps the stinkhorn mushroom to grow and thrive but also contributes to the overall decomposition of wood, converting it back into soil and nutrients that can support new life.
It is important to note that while stinkhorn mushrooms are not poisonous, it is generally not recommended to consume them due to their unpleasant odour and taste. However, their role in nature is invaluable, and their unique method of wood decomposition showcases the intricate and fascinating ways in which fungi contribute to the health and balance of ecosystems. By understanding and appreciating the role of stinkhorn mushrooms and other fungi in decomposition, we gain insight into the complex web of interactions that sustain life on Earth.
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Stinkhorns are part of a large family of fungi with many subtypes
Stinkhorn mushrooms, scientifically known as Phallus impudicus, are part of a large family of fungi with many subtypes and appearances that often look otherworldly. While many look like 'horns', some grow appendages that give them a squid-like appearance. Others have fantastical mesh attached below their cap, resembling a bridal veil billowing out from the mushroom's hollow stalk. Stinkhorns range in colour from white, tan, green, orange, red, with black ends, inclusions, and highlights.
The stinkhorn mushroom is part of a large family of fungi with many strange characteristics, such as orange and red colours, and interesting shapes. Some varieties look like "alien hands" and aren't as stinky. The stinkhorn mushroom starts as an egg-shaped bulbous structure with a white smooth surface nestled shallowly within the ground. As it matures, the cap and stipe expand through the egg’s cover (peridium) and elongate from the receptacle, rapidly out of the egg. The latticed stalks are usually white, but can also be red or pink. The maturing fungi expand skyward to a height of 6-8 inches very quickly, within minutes.
The immature stinkhorn is whitish or pinkish, egg-shaped, and typically 4 to 6 cm by 3 to 5 cm. On the outside is a thick whitish volva, also known as the peridium, covering the olive-coloured gelatinous gleba. The mature stinkhorn is 10 to 30 cm tall and 4 to 5 cm in diameter, topped with a conical cap 2 to 4 cm high that is covered with a greenish-brown slimy gleba. In older fungi, the slime is eventually removed, exposing a bare yellowish pitted and ridged surface.
Stinkhorns are not considered poisonous. No human fatalities have been recorded from consuming them. They are considered noxious for their foul odour and have been linked to gastric irritation in dogs. Stinkhorns are edible but only in their egg stage, as the mature mushroom is too stinky. In the egg stage, they have a crunch similar to water chestnuts, along with a mild radish flavour. They can be eaten raw and added to salads, stews, and noodle soups.
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Frequently asked questions
No, stinkhorn mushrooms are not psychedelic. However, they have been studied for their potential aphrodisiac properties.
Stinkhorn mushrooms have a pungent, putrid odour, often described as "rotting flesh" or "sewage". The smell has also been likened to that of a dead mouse or excrement.
Stinkhorn mushrooms are phallic in shape and can be white, tan, green, orange, red, or black. They are often slimy and sticky, with a spore mass on the tip that attracts flies and other insects.
Stinkhorn mushrooms are edible in their egg stage, when they are said to have a mild radish or hazelnut flavour. However, mature stinkhorn mushrooms are not considered palatable due to their strong odour. There are also poisonous lookalikes, so proper identification is crucial.
