Stinky squid fungi

Pseudocolus fusiformis is a fungi belonging to Phallaceae family & the common name is Stinky squid, this fungi or mushroom gets its common name as stinky because it generates foul rotten smell.

Pseudocolus fusiformis

The Fruit body at first is a brownish to greyish egg-like stage which will be inside the soil, resembling a puffball with white rhizomorphs. When the outer wall (peridium) of the egg splits open, three to five slender tapering orange coloured arching arms rise from a common stalk.

Pseudocolus fusiformis

The tips of the arms are often held together and the spore mass is distributed along the inner surfaces of the arms , Smell of mushroom caused by mucus greenish – black attracts insects to help spread spores & termed as sporulation . 

Usually green bottled flies find the spore mass of stink horns irresistible. Found this during a nature trail near Bannerghatta National park.