common stinkhorn

It is a common mushroom in Europe and North America, where it occurs in habitats rich in wood debris, such as forests and mulched gardens. It appears from summer to late autumn. 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 usually poisonous and immature mushrooms are consumed cooked on their own or feature as an ingredient in cuisines of parts of the Czech Republic, France and Germany.