Phallus impudicus L. 1753

Immature fruiting bodies: Initially semi-submerged and covered by leaf-litter, egg-like, 3–5 cm across, attached to substrate. The outer wall of the egg is white to pinkish but there is a thick gelatinous middle layer held between the membranous inner and outer layers. Matured fruiting bodies: The egg is soon ruptured, as the white hollow stalk-like receptacle extends to 10–25 cm tall, the pendulous, bell-shaped head is covered by a mesh-work of raised ribs covered in dark olive slime which contains the spores. This slime has a strong sickly offensive smell which attracts flies from large distances to disperse the spores.