continuation on next page
The Smelly Strategy
- The gleba (slime) smells like rotting meat to attract flies and other insects.
- Flies land on it, pick up the spores, and disperse them elsewhere.
- It’s actually a brilliant evolutionary adaptation.
Common Types of Stinkhorns
- Phallus impudicus (Common Stinkhorn) — phallic-shaped
- Clathrus ruber (Lattice Stinkhorn) — forms a red, cage-like structure
- Mutinus species — dog stinkhorns, more slender
Are They Dangerous?
- ✅ Not toxic — though the smell makes them unappetizing.
- ✅ Not harmful to lawns or plants — they’re actually beneficial decomposers.
- ✅ Safe around pets and children, though the
