Phallus hadriani Ventenat: Persoon
Synops. Meth. Fung.: 246. 1801.

Common Name: Stinkhorn

• Pileus

  Fruiting body arising from a buried, egg-like structure, up to 5.0 cm long and 4.0 cm broad, sheathed by a thin, white, soon lilac to pinkish-colored membrane, attached to the substrate via a basal mycelial cord; fruiting body elongating rapidly (within hours) to form a characteristic phallus shape, cap up to 4.0 cm tall, 3.0 cm broad, attached only at the apex, elsewhere appressed to the stipe, the margin sometimes slightly recurved; at maturity, the stipe apex developing an elongated pore, up to 3 cm long and 1.0 cm broad; cap surface coarsely reticulate, the reticulations slightly raised, whitish, coated with olive-grey slime; odor strong, penetrating, disagreeable.

• Stipe

  Stipe up to 15 cm long and 3.0 cm thick, equal, hollow, round; surface whitish, becoming cream-colored, spongy in appearance, firm, eventually collapsing in age; a thin, membranous, saccate type volva at the base, pinkish in color, lilac when fresh, lined with gel giving a somewhat swollen appearance; taste mild.

• Spores

  Spores 3.0-4.5 x 1.5-2 µm, ellipsoid-oblong, smooth; olive-grey in mass.

• Habitat

  Solitary or in small groups in sandy soils, sand dunes, lawns, gardens and parks; uncommon in natural habitats; fruiting from later summer to early fall in watered areas.

• Edibility

  Edible in the egg stage; untried locally.

• Comments

  Phallus hadriani is recognized by a phallic-shaped fruiting body, the fertile head coated with malodorous olive-grey slime, a pallid, spongy, textured stipe, and a membranous, lilac/pinkish colored, saccate volva. Phallus impudicus is similar, but has a whitish volva. For the visually impaired, morels might be considered a look-alike, but can be easily differentiated by dry, pitted, ridged caps and lack of a volva. Phallus hadriani is uncommon in California, restricted largely to disturbed habitats. Although its lilac-colored egg stage rivals the beauty of any Easter egg, it may nonetheless an unwelcome guest in gardens due to a foetid odor. Like most stinkhorns, the life span of the fruiting body is short, only a day or two, just long enough for flies to carry away the slime in which its spores are embedded.

• References

  Calonge, Francisco D. (1998). Flora Mycologica Iberica. Vol. 3. Gasteromycetes, I. Lycoperdales, Nidulariales, Phallales, Sclerodermatales, Tulostomatales. J. Cramer: Berlin, Germany. 271 p.
  Pegler, D. N., Læssøe, T. & Spooner, B. M. (1995). British Puffballs, Earthstars, and Stinkhorns. Royal Botanic Gardens: Kew, England. 255 p.

• Other Descriptions and Photos
  • Nathan Wilson: Phallus hadriani (CP)
  • Herb Saylor: Phallus hadriani (CP) — sectioned to show interior of an "egg"
  • Michael Wood: Phallus hadriani (CP)
  • Michael Wood: Phallus hadriani (CP) -- typical sandy soil habitat
  • Michael Wood: Phallus hadriani (CP) -- Phallus "eggs" tranplanted to potting soil usually fruit
  • Michael Wood: Phallus hadriani (CP) -- best done outside the house!
  • Michael Wood: Phallus hadriani (CP) -- not your typical potted "plant"!
  • Moselio Schaechter: A Mycological Voice From The Past (D)
  • Mushroom Observer: Phallus hadriani (CP)
  • Arora (1991): p. 241 (D)
  • Breitenbach & Kränzlin (vol. 2): sp. 527 (D, I, & CP)
  • Pegler et al.: p. 174 (D), p. 175 (CP & I)
  • Weber & Smith: sp. 240 (D & CP)
  
  

  (D=Description; I=Illustration; P=Photo; CP=Color Photo)