Mutinus caninus, Dog Stinkhorn, identification (2024)

FAQs

How do you identify a dog stinkhorn? ›

Dog Stinkhorn is much smaller than the Common Stinkhorn - typically 8 to 15cm tall; stipe diameter is 1 to 1.5cm. The cap is honeycombed beneath the gleba (a shiny, sticky, smelly coating that contains the spores).

The stinkhorn is not harmful to plants or to people, and the smell alone doesn't invite an up-close inspection. There's not much you can do to rid yourself of the stinkhorn in the mulch bed. You might try raking the mulch to break off the stalk and shorten its life cycle.

Toxicity. 'Stinkhorns' are not considered to be poisonous. No human fatalities have been recorded as resulting from consumption of members of this group. They are considered 'Noxious' for their foul odor and reported veterinary experience of dogs ingesting the mushrooms and having gastric irritation symptoms.

The elegant stinkhorn is found in wooded areas and looks somewhat similar, but the stinking dog is noted for being found in shaded parks and cultivated locations growing in areas covered with woodchips, leaf litter or rich, organic soils.

Elegant stinkhorn (Mutinus elegans), also known as. devil's dipstick, is a funky-smelling fungus that is. typically found on the forest floor near rotting logs or in. mulch beds. While most fungi rely on wind to disperse.

Stinkhorns are generally not considered to be edible and even if you are into mushrooms, you won't likely confuse these with any of their appetizing relatives, nor will you find them terribly appealing. Dog Stinkhorn mushrooms are found in the eastern US as well as Europe, Asia, and elsewhere.

Stinkhorns are short-lived and will naturally disappear quite rapidly. If stinkhorns are too unsightly, if their smell becomes too putrid, if they attract too many insects, or if there is concern about small children or pets eating them, pluck them from the ground and discard them as they appear.

Stinkhorns can be found in lawns, around the base of dead trees, or in flowerbeds mulched with wood chips. They are commonly found near uprooted trees, near decayed logs or in humus. They are produced during wet, cool periods in late summer and fall. They are not harmful and no control is necessary.

Sometimes though, as is the case here, they can be dispersed by humans moving sod, soil, or wood chips containing stinkhorn spores to a new area. Stinkhorns are not harmful to you, your children or your pets, but as with any other wild mushroom you should not play with or eat them.

Although they are not known to be seriously poisonous, these are definitely not delectable fungi. Several people have reported their dogs being very sick after eating mature Dog Stinkhorns, and so it's most likely that any person eating mature specimens would suffer a similar fate.

What animals eat stinkhorns? ›

Dogs are more likely than cats to ingest mushrooms and they are particularly attracted to stinkhorns. The stinkhorn pictured here is Aseroe rubra, more commonly known as the anemone stinkhorn or red starfish fungus.

They are not detrimental to the garden and actually are helping to break down organic matter; but while they are around, they smell pretty bad and can attract unwanted insects. Just knock them down when you see them, and that will reduce the smell.

Remove underground stumps, dead roots, and sawdust left from grinding stumps. The fungus also grows on decomposing hardwood mulch, so replace old hardwood mulch with pine needles, straw, or chopped leaves. You might also consider using live groundcovers instead of mulch.

The fruiting body emerges from a white 'egg' about 2-3cm wide with mycelial cords at the base. Under the outer skin is a layer of slime like material surrounding the fruiting body before it emerges. Once the fruiting body has emerged, the egg looks like volval remains.

During cool weather in winter and early spring, some Florida homeowners begin to notice foul-smelling mushrooms popping up in their yard. Although their strong rotting smell is unappealing, these fungi – the stinkhorn – are not actually bad for your landscape and can be beneficial.

Although they are not known to be seriously poisonous, these are definitely not delectable fungi. Several people have reported their dogs being very sick after eating mature Dog Stinkhorns, and so it's most likely that any person eating mature specimens would suffer a similar fate.

The stinkhorn is a phallus-shaped fungus that emerges from an egg-shaped base. The pitted, bell-shaped cap is covered with olive-brown slime and has an offensive smell. The stinkhorn can be found in woods and gardens, and is associated with rotting wood.

The mature elegant stinkhorn is a tapered orange or pink column. The immature stages look like small white eggs. Mushrooms are a lot like plants, but they lack chlorophyll and have to take nutrients from other materials.