10/31/2019
The German Society for Mycology chooses a mushroom of the year for each year. For the year 2020, this special honour goes to a mushroom that is unusual from some points of view. The common stinkhorn stands out because - as its name suggests - it smells somewhat unpleasant. Namely after carrion. For flies this makes it extremely attractive, for humans less so. By the way, the stinkhorn is also not suitable as a edible mushroom. Then the mushroom stands out due to its special shape, which is also expressed in its scientific name: Phallus impudicus. The Latin word 'impudicus' means 'lewd' or 'indecent'. Carl von Linné, who personally gave the mushroom this name, was a good observer! I photographed the mushroom in the Teutoburg Forest, where my hometown Bielefeld (Germany) is located.
Common stinkhorn (Phallus impudicus)
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