Stinkhorn Mushroom (immature stage)

Description:

Phallus impudicus, known colloquially as the common stinkhorn, is a widespread fungus recognizable for its foul odor and its phallic shape. It is a common mushroom in Europe and western North America. Sometimes called the witch's egg,[5] the immature stinkhorn is whitish or pinkish, egg-shaped, and typically 4 to 6 cm (1.6 to 2.4 in) by 3 to 5 cm (1.2 to 2.0 in).[6] The fruiting structure is tall and white with a slimy, dark olive colored conical head. Known as the gleba, this material contains the spores, and is transported by insects which are attracted by the odor—described as resembling carrion. Despite its foul smell, it is not poisonous and the young mushroom is consumed in parts of France and Germany. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phallus_imp...

Habitat:

The common stinkhorn can be found throughout much of Europe and North America, and it has also been collected in Asia (including China,[20] Taiwan,[21] and India[22]), Costa Rica,[23] Iceland,[24] Tanzania,[25] and southeast Australia.[26] In North America, it is most common west of the Mississippi River; Ravenel's stinkhorn (Phallus ravenelii) is more common to the east.[27] The fungus is associated with rotting wood, and as such it is most commonly encountered in deciduous woods where it fruits from summer to late autumn, though it may also be found in conifer woods or even grassy areas such as parks and gardens.[7] It may also form mycorrhizal associations with certain trees.[28] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phallus_imp...

Notes:

I found this in the mulch, outside where I work. It is not very common in this part of the country and so I believe it may have been imported with the mulch. Had these not been disturbed, they would've grown into some pretty large sized stinkhorn mushrooms.