Scientific name: Pseudocolus fusiformis (E. Fisch.)
Lloyd Derivation of name: Fus- means "spindle," form-
means
"shape or appearance" in reference to the long,
spindle-shaped arms. Synonyms: Colus fusiformis E. Fisch.; Pseudocolus
schellenbergiae (Sumst.) P. Micheli Common name(s): Stinky squid. Phylum: Basidiomycota Order: Phallales Family: Phallaceae Occurrence on wood substrate: Saprobic; single to
several in wood chips used for landscaping, wood debris
or leaf litter;
July through September. Dimensions: Fruitbody up to 6 cm tall and 1.5 to 3 cm
wide.. Description: Fruitbody at first a brownish to grayish
egg-like
stage, resembling a puffball, with white
rhizomorphs. When the outer wall (peridium) of the egg
splits open, three to five slender, tapering, pink to orange
arching arms rise from a common stalk. The arms are
whitish at their bases and the tips are often united. The
greenish, slimy, fetid spore mass covers the inner
surfaces of the arms. Edibility: Inedible. Comments: Gary Lincoff reports that this species was
first reported in North America in Pittsburgh in 1915
and has spread widely since then.