Fungus
Common Stinkhorn
Phallus impudicusAlso known as Witches' Egg, Wood Witch
Common stinkhorns erupt remarkably fast from gelatinous underground egg-like structures, expanding to full height in just a few hours. Mature fruiting bodies emit a potent, carrion-like stench that can be detected from dozens of meters away, attracting flies and beetles that feast on the slimy gleba and disperse the spores adhered to their bodies. As saprobic fungi, they play a vital ecological role breaking down woody debris and leaf litter in temperate forests across Europe and North America.
DecomposerWoodlandSpore Disperser
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preySaprobic (absorbs nutrients from decaying wood and leaf litter)
Predators
- Green Bottle Fly
- Blue Bottle Fly
- European Black Slug
ThreatsHabitat loss and intensive forest floor clearing
HabitatsDeciduous and coniferous woodlands, parks, gardens, and mulch beds
Life span1–3 days (fruiting body); mycelium lives indefinitely
Classification
- OrderPhallales
- FamilyPhallaceae
- GenusPhallus
- SpeciesPhallus impudicus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Harmless to observe; many wild fungi have toxic look-alikes, so never consume wild fungi based on app identification.
Responsible observation
- Follow Your Nose: Locate these fungi by following the scent of rotting meat through damp woods in late summer and autumn.
- Examine the Cap: Look closely with a hand lens to see flies eagerly consuming the olive-green gleba.
- Observe the Base: Gently brush aside leaf litter at the base to spot the gelatinous 'egg' stage from which the stalk emerges.
Same Genus (c) Oleg Kosterin, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Oleg Kosterin · cc-by
Pollinator (c) Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Katja Schulz · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Denys Vynokurov, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Denys Vynokurov · cc-by
Same Family (c) Tina Ellegaard Poulsen, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Tina Ellegaard Poulsen · cc-by
Keep collecting in Fauna
Found in Collections
Species set Pro
Fungi Forager
Common Stinkhorn is found in this collection. Identify it in Fauna to fill this slot and continue your progress.
Unlock to track progress
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?
Checking your Fauna account…Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.