Stinkhorn Fungi (G2274)extensionpublications.unl.edu/assets/pdf/g2274.pdfacross North America. These...
5
G2274 · Index: Lawn & Garden, Lawn & Garden Issued February 2016 NebGuide Research-Based Information That You Can Use Nebraska Extension is NebGuide discusses the biology, identification, and management of stinkhorn fungi. Diagnosis and Identification Stinkhorn fungi can be quite striking in the landscape but are oſten viewed as a nuisance because of the foul odor they emit. ese fungi are in the scientific classification division Bacidiomycetes so they produce a mushroom stalk and cap. Many species of fungi belonging to the family Phallaceae are considered stinkhorns, and they can be found across North America. ese species exist in many sizes and colors and can have white, tan, brown, orange, yellow, and red stalks. e stinkhorn species found in Nebraska belong to two genera, both in the family Phallaceae. Phallus spp. typically have orange to red stalks and a reddish- orange cap with dark brown gleba, which is spore-forming tissue (Figure 1). Mutinus spp. oſten have white stalks with an olive green or brown sticky cap (not pictured). Occurrence and Distribution ese fungi are saprophytic, which means they derive their nutrients from dead organic matter and are not con- sidered plant pathogens. ey are typically found in wood chip mulch in landscape beds and around shrubs and trees; in areas of the lawn high in organic matter; in locations containing old stumps or decaying wood; and on dead, rotting roots. Stinkhorn fungi in Nebraska can be found in late spring or early fall. In locations with warmer climates, stinkhorns can be found in the winter months as well. Classification Kingdom: Fungi Division: Basidiomycota Class: Agaricomycetes Order: Phallales Family: Phallaceae Genus: Phallus sp. Genus: Mutinus sp. Common names: dog stinkhorn, devil’s stinkhorn, common stinkhorn Biology Stinkhorn fungi spend most of their lives in a vege- tative state as mycelia (small, thread-like filaments) just beneath the soil surface or in the mulch directly on top of soil. e white to reddish- orange mushroom stalk sup- ports the cap, which is the reproductive structure of the fungus. When the fungus is ready to produce a stalk and cap, a small egg-like structure forms below the mulch or soil surface from a specialized mycelial strand called a rhizomorph (Figure 2). Stinkhorn Fungi Kevin A. Korus, Extension Educator, Plant Pathology Anthony A. Muhle, Agronomy and Horticulture Student Kim A. Todd, Extension Horticulture Specialist Figure 1. Mutinum spp. stinkhorns in the landscape.
Transcript of Stinkhorn Fungi (G2274)extensionpublications.unl.edu/assets/pdf/g2274.pdfacross North America. These...
G2274 · Index: Lawn & Garden, Lawn & GardenIssued February 2016
NebGuideResearch-Based Information That You Can UseNebraska Extension
This NebGuide discusses the biology, identification, and management of stinkhorn fungi.
Diagnosis and Identification
Stinkhorn fungi can be quite striking in the landscape but are often viewed as a nuisance because of the foul odor they emit. These fungi are in the scientific classification division Bacidiomycetes so they produce a mushroom stalk and cap. Many species of fungi belonging to the family Phallaceae are considered stinkhorns, and they can be found across North America. These species exist in many sizes and colors and can have white, tan, brown, orange, yellow, and red stalks. The stinkhorn species found in Nebraska belong to two genera, both in the family Phallaceae. Phallus spp. typically have orange to red stalks and a reddish- orange cap with dark brown gleba, which is spore- forming tissue (Figure 1). Mutinus spp. often have white stalks with an olive green or brown sticky cap (not pictured).
Occurrence and Distribution
These fungi are saprophytic, which means they derive their nutrients from dead organic matter and are not con-sidered plant pathogens. They are typically found in wood chip mulch in landscape beds and around shrubs and trees; in areas of the lawn high in organic matter; in locations containing old stumps or decaying wood; and on dead, rotting roots. Stinkhorn fungi in Nebraska can be found in late spring or early fall. In locations with warmer climates, stinkhorns can be found in the winter months as well.
ClassificationKingdom: FungiDivision: BasidiomycotaClass: AgaricomycetesOrder: PhallalesFamily: PhallaceaeGenus: Phallus sp.Genus: Mutinus sp.Common names: dog stinkhorn, devil’s stinkhorn,
common stinkhorn
Biology
Stinkhorn fungi spend most of their lives in a vege-tative state as mycelia (small, thread- like filaments) just beneath the soil surface or in the mulch directly on top of soil. The white to reddish- orange mushroom stalk sup-ports the cap, which is the reproductive structure of the fungus. When the fungus is ready to produce a stalk and cap, a small egg- like structure forms below the mulch or soil surface from a specialized mycelial strand called a rhizomorph (Figure 2).
Stinkhorn FungiKevin A. Korus, Extension Educator, Plant Pathology
Anthony A. Muhle, Agronomy and Horticulture StudentKim A. Todd, Extension Horticulture Specialist
Figure 1. Mutinum spp. stinkhorns in the landscape.
Tabl
e 1.
Rec
omm
ende
d gr
ound
cove
r pla
nts f
or N
ebra
ska
that
can
be
used
in p
lace
of w
ood
mul
ch.
Gro
undc
over
sEn
viro
nmen
tal P
refe
r-en
ces
Des
ign
Cha
ract
erist
ics
Com
mon
N
ame
Culti
vars
and
Va
rietie
sFa
mily
Sun
Part Sun
Shade
Moist/Wet
Average
Dry
Well-Drained
Bota
nica
l N
ame
Height/Spread
Bloom Time
Color
Foliage
Texture
Use
sRe
mar
ks
com
mon
yar
row
‘Pap
rika,
´ ‘F
irela
nd,´
‘Sno
w-
spor
t,´ ‘C
assis
´
Ast
erac
eae
PT
TP
PA
chill
ea m
ille-
foliu
m24
”– 48
”+Ju
ne– A
ugW
hite
, yel
low,
or
ange
, red
, pin
kG
ray-
gree
nFi
neCu
t, na
tura
lSo
me
culti
vars
do
not
spre
ad
bugl
ewee
d,
carp
et b
ugle
‘Cat
lin’s
Gia
nt,´
‘Cho
cola
te C
hip,
´ ‘Ju
ngle
Bea
uty´
Lam
iace
aeT
PT
TP
Ajug
a re
ptan
s6”
/24”
+Ap
ril– M
ayV
iole
t- bl
ueG
reen
Med
ium
Bloo
m, c
olor
co
ntra
stTo
lera
tes p
oor
soil
orna
men
tal
onio
nva
r. gl
aucu
m,
‘Tw
ister
´A
lliac
eae
PP
PT
PA
llium
se-
nesc
ens
12”/
12”
July
– Sep
tLa
vend
erBl
ue- g
reen
Fine
Edge
r
snow
drop
an
emon
eRa
nunc
ulac
eae
TP
TT
PA
nem
one
sylv
estr
is12
”/18
”+M
ayW
hite
Gre
enM
ediu
mD
ark
folia
ge,
bloo
mG
ood
woo
dlan
d ed
ge
Rock
y M
ount
ain
puss
ytoe
sA
ster
acea
eP
TP
PA
nten
naria
pa
rvifo
lia4”
- 18”
April
– May
Whi
te, p
ink
Silv
erFi
neG
roun
dcov
er,
rock
Ever
- gra
y
wild
gin
ger,
Ca-
nadi
an g
inge
rA
race
aeT
PT
PA
saru
m
cana
dens
e6”
/18”
+M
ayBr
own
Gre
enM
ediu
mU
nifo
rm te
xtur
e, un
der s
hrub
sG
ood
woo
dlan
d gr
ound
cove
r
purp
le p
oppy
m
allo
wva
r. te
nuiss
ima
Mal
vace
aeP
TT
PP
Cal
lirho
e in
vo-
lucr
ata
6”/2
4”M
ay– A
ugM
agen
taG
reen
Med
- fine
Nat
ural
ize,
open
gr
ound
cove
rSh
ear a
fter
flow
erin
g to
re
stor
e fo
liage
ap
pear
ance
clus
tere
d be
ll-flo
wer
‘Joan
Elli
ott,´
var
. ac
aulis
Cam
panu
lace
aeT
PT
TC
ampa
nula
gl
omer
ata
15”/
24”+
June
Blue
Gre
enM
ediu
mU
nder
tree
s, ed
ger
Take
s ful
l sun
w
ith m
oist
ure
palm
sedg
eC
yper
acea
eT
PT
PT
Car
ex m
uski
ng-
umen
sis18
”/36
”+Ap
ril– M
ayTa
nG
reen
Med
- fine
Rain
gard
ens,
swal
esN
ot e
verg
reen
; ra
pid
grow
th
snow
- in- s
umm
erC
aryo
phyl
lace
aeP
TT
PP
Cer
astiu
m
tom
ento
sum
3”/1
8”+
May
Whi
teSi
lver
Fine
Col
or co
ntra
st,
rock
gar
den
Keep
stan
ding
w
ater
or s
now
off
pla
nt in
w
inte
r
plum
bago
Plum
bagi
nace
aeP
TP
TC
erat
ostig
ma
plum
bagi
noid
es12
”/24
”Au
g– O
ctBl
ueG
reen
Fine
Edge
r, w
alls,
m
ass
Bloo
m &
fall
colo
r
lily-
of- t
he- v
alle
y‘D
ora´
Lila
ceae
(R
usca
ceae
)T
PT
PT
Con
valla
ria
maj
alis
9”/2
4”+
May
Whi
teG
reen
Bold
Und
er tr
ees,
deep
shad
e, cu
tVe
ry a
ggre
ssiv
e;
hard
to e
radi
-ca
te; f
ragr
ant
hybr
id re
d ch
ry-
sant
hem
um‘C
lara
Cur
tis,´
‘Mar
y St
oker
´A
ster
acea
eP
PP
Den
dran
them
a ru
bellu
m18
”/30
”++
Aug–
Sept
Pink
, yel
low,
sa
lmon
Gra
y- gr
een
Med
Bord
er, c
ut
flow
ers
Very
har
dy
hard
y ag
erat
umA
ster
acea
eP
TT
TP
Eupa
toriu
m
(Con
oclin
um)
coel
estin
um
24”/
36”+
+Au
g– Se
ptBl
ue, w
hite
Gre
enM
edBo
rder
, cut
flo
wer
sC
olon
izes
swee
t woo
druff
Rubi
acea
eT
PP
TP
Gal
ium
odo
r-at
um6”
/18”
+M
ayW
hite
Gre
enFi
neEd
ging
, und
er
shru
bsG
oes d
orm
ant
in su
n; a
rom
atic
fo
liage
bigr
oot c
rane
sbill
‘Bev
an’s
Varie
ty,´
‘Ingw
erso
n’s
Varie
ty´
Ger
ania
ceae
TP
PT
PG
eran
ium
mac
-ro
rhiz
zum
12”/
18”+
May
– Jun
eD
ark
pink
Ligh
t gre
enM
ediu
mU
nder
shru
bs,
edgi
ngEv
ergr
een;
som
e w
inte
r red
; ar
omat
ic
yello
w a
rcha
ngel
‘Var
iega
tum
´La
mia
ceae
TP
PT
PLa
mia
stru
m
gale
obdo
lon
12”/
24”+
May
– Jun
eYe
llow
Gre
en/w
hite
Med
ium
Col
or co
ntra
st,
dry
shad
eVe
ry in
vasiv
e;
root
s rap
idly
&
hard
to d
ig o
ld
crow
ns
cree
ping
lily
turf
Lila
ceae
(Rus
ca-
ceae
)T
PT
TP
TP
Lirio
pe sp
icat
a8”
/24”
+Ju
ly– A
ugV
iole
t, w
hite
Gre
enFi
neEd
ger,
text
ure
cont
rast
, wee
d ba
rrie
r
Sem
i- eve
rgre
en;
com
pete
s with
tr
ee ro
ots
goos
enec
k lo
oses
trife
Prim
ulac
eae
TP
PT
Lysim
achi
a cl
ethr
oide
s30
”/60
+”Ju
ne– J
uly
Whi
teG
reen
Med
ium
Col
oniz
er,
inte
rest
ing
form
in
flow
er
Agg
ress
ive
cree
ping
Jenn
y, m
oney
wor
t‘A
urea
´Pr
imul
acea
eP
TP
TLy
simac
hia
num
mul
aria
2”/2
4”+
May
Yello
wG
reen
Fine
Bios
wal
es, u
nder
sh
rubs
, sha
deRo
ots a
t nod
es;
take
s lim
ited
foot
traffi
c
spea
rmin
t, m
int
‘Ken
tuck
y C
olo-
nel,´
‘Cho
cola
te,´
‘Ora
nge,´
man
y ot
hers
Lam
iace
aeP
TT
PM
enth
a sp
icat
a,
Men
tha
spp.
18”/
36”+
Aug–
Sept
Lila
c, pi
nkG
reen
Med
ium
Scen
t, po
llina
-to
rs, c
ulin
ary
Runs
and
runs
an
d ru
ns
beeb
alm
‘Jaco
b K
line,´
‘P
urpl
e Ro
oste
r,´
‘Gra
nd P
arad
e,´
othe
rs
Lam
iace
aeP
TP
TM
onar
da
didy
ma
36”/
60”
June
– Jul
yLa
vend
er, r
ed,
pink
, whi
teG
reen
Med
ium
Cut,
hum
min
g-bi
rds,
pond
ed
ges
Cho
ose
mild
ew- r
esist
ant
culti
vars
Japa
nese
pac
hys-
andr
a‘G
reen
She
en,´
‘Silv
er E
dge´
Buxa
ceae
TP
PP
Pach
ysan
dra
term
inal
is6”
/18”
+Ap
ril– M
ayW
hite
Gre
enFi
neU
nder
shru
bs o
r tr
ees,
slope
sBu
rns i
n su
n;
leaf
blig
ht, r
oot
rot,
scal
e
mos
s phl
oxm
any
Pole
mon
iace
aeP
TP
TP
Phlo
x su
bula
ta3”
/24”
+Ap
ril– M
ayPi
nk, b
lue,
whi
teG
reen
Fine
Slop
es, p
oor
alka
line
soils
, w
alls
Cen
ters
can
be
com
e op
en;
shea
r
oran
ge st
onec
rop
‘Wei
hens
tepn
aner
,´ ‘V
arie
gatu
m´
Cra
ssul
acea
eP
TT
PP
Sedu
m
kam
tsch
atic
um6”
/18”
+Ju
ne– J
uly
Yello
wG
reen
Med
ium
Mas
s, slo
pes,
roof
sH
uge
num
bers
of
sedu
ms
avai
labl
e fo
r gr
ound
cove
r
two-
row
st
onec
rop
‘Dra
gon’s
Blo
od,´
‘Eliz
abet
h,´
‘Voo
doo´
Cra
ssul
acea
eP
TT
PP
Sedu
m sp
uriu
m6”
/18”
+Ju
ne– J
uly
Pink
, red
Redd
ish b
onze
Fine
Mas
s, slo
pes,
roof
sM
any
culti
vars
; bl
end
with
ot
hers
woo
dlan
d st
onec
rop
Cra
ssul
acea
eT
PT
PP
Sedu
m te
rnat
um10
”/18
”Ju
neW
hite
Gre
enFi
neSh
ade,
woo
dlan
dU
nusu
al fo
r dr
ier s
hade
lam
bsea
r‘H
elen
e vo
n St
ein,
´ ‘Si
lver
C
arpe
t,’ ‘B
ig E
ars´
Lam
iace
aeP
TP
TP
Stac
hys l
anat
a12
”/24
”Ju
nePu
rple
Silv
erBo
ldEd
ger,
cont
rast
Mus
t hav
e go
od
drai
nage
foam
flow
er‘D
ark
Eye,´
‘Slic
k Ro
ck,´
‘Spr
ing
Sym
phon
y´
Saxi
frag
acea
eT
PP
TP
Tiar
ella
co
rdifo
lia9”
/24”
+Ap
rilW
hite
Gre
enFi
neBo
rder
, roc
k w
alls,
woo
dlan
dsRh
izom
atou
s; go
od n
ew
culti
vars
woo
lly
spee
dwel
lSc
roph
ular
iace
aeP
TP
PVe
roni
ca in
cana
12”/
24”
June
Dee
p bl
ueSi
lver
Med
ium
Edge
r, w
alls,
gr
ound
cove
rRo
sette
- typ
e gr
owth
periw
inkl
e,
vinc
a‘L
aGra
ve,´
‘Bow
les,´
‘Ral
ph
Shug
art,´
‘Blu
e &
G
old´
Apoc
ynac
eae
TT
PP
TT
PV
inca
min
or12
”/24
”+M
ayPe
riwin
kle
Gre
enFi
neU
nder
tree
s, sh
rubs
, mas
sed
Ever
gree
n; b
light
ca
n be
a p
robl
em
P= P
refe
rs, T
= T
oler
ates
Tabl
e 1.
Rec
omm
ende
d gr
ound
cove
r pla
nts f
or N
ebra
ska
that
can
be
used
in p
lace
of w
ood
mul
ch.
Gro
undc
over
sEn
viro
nmen
tal P
refe
r-en
ces
Des
ign
Cha
ract
erist
ics
Com
mon
N
ame
Culti
vars
and
Va
rietie
sFa
mily
Sun
Part Sun
Shade
Moist/Wet
Average
Dry
Well-Drained
Bota
nica
l N
ame
Height/Spread
Bloom Time
Color
Foliage
Texture
Use
sRe
mar
ks
com
mon
yar
row
‘Pap
rika,
´ ‘F
irela
nd,´
‘Sno
w-
spor
t,´ ‘C
assis
´
Ast
erac
eae
PT
TP
PA
chill
ea m
ille-
foliu
m24
”– 48
”+Ju
ne– A
ugW
hite
, yel
low,
or
ange
, red
, pin
kG
ray-
gree
nFi
neCu
t, na
tura
lSo
me
culti
vars
do
not
spre
ad
bugl
ewee
d,
carp
et b
ugle
‘Cat
lin’s
Gia
nt,´
‘Cho
cola
te C
hip,
´ ‘Ju
ngle
Bea
uty´
Lam
iace
aeT
PT
TP
Ajug
a re
ptan
s6”
/24”
+Ap
ril– M
ayV
iole
t- bl
ueG
reen
Med
ium
Bloo
m, c
olor
co
ntra
stTo
lera
tes p
oor
soil
orna
men
tal
onio
nva
r. gl
aucu
m,
‘Tw
ister
´A
lliac
eae
PP
PT
PA
llium
se-
nesc
ens
12”/
12”
July
– Sep
tLa
vend
erBl
ue- g
reen
Fine
Edge
r
snow
drop
an
emon
eRa
nunc
ulac
eae
TP
TT
PA
nem
one
sylv
estr
is12
”/18
”+M
ayW
hite
Gre
enM
ediu
mD
ark
folia
ge,
bloo
mG
ood
woo
dlan
d ed
ge
Rock
y M
ount
ain
puss
ytoe
sA
ster
acea
eP
TP
PA
nten
naria
pa
rvifo
lia4”
- 18”
April
– May
Whi
te, p
ink
Silv
erFi
neG
roun
dcov
er,
rock
Ever
- gra
y
wild
gin
ger,
Ca-
nadi
an g
inge
rA
race
aeT
PT
PA
saru
m
cana
dens
e6”
/18”
+M
ayBr
own
Gre
enM
ediu
mU
nifo
rm te
xtur
e, un
der s
hrub
sG
ood
woo
dlan
d gr
ound
cove
r
purp
le p
oppy
m
allo
wva
r. te
nuiss
ima
Mal
vace
aeP
TT
PP
Cal
lirho
e in
vo-
lucr
ata
6”/2
4”M
ay– A
ugM
agen
taG
reen
Med
- fine
Nat
ural
ize,
open
gr
ound
cove
rSh
ear a
fter
flow
erin
g to
re
stor
e fo
liage
ap
pear
ance
clus
tere
d be
ll-flo
wer
‘Joan
Elli
ott,´
var
. ac
aulis
Cam
panu
lace
aeT
PT
TC
ampa
nula
gl
omer
ata
15”/
24”+
June
Blue
Gre
enM
ediu
mU
nder
tree
s, ed
ger
Take
s ful
l sun
w
ith m
oist
ure
palm
sedg
eC
yper
acea
eT
PT
PT
Car
ex m
uski
ng-
umen
sis18
”/36
”+Ap
ril– M
ayTa
nG
reen
Med
- fine
Rain
gard
ens,
swal
esN
ot e
verg
reen
; ra
pid
grow
th
snow
- in- s
umm
erC
aryo
phyl
lace
aeP
TT
PP
Cer
astiu
m
tom
ento
sum
3”/1
8”+
May
Whi
teSi
lver
Fine
Col
or co
ntra
st,
rock
gar
den
Keep
stan
ding
w
ater
or s
now
off
pla
nt in
w
inte
r
plum
bago
Plum
bagi
nace
aeP
TP
TC
erat
ostig
ma
plum
bagi
noid
es12
”/24
”Au
g– O
ctBl
ueG
reen
Fine
Edge
r, w
alls,
m
ass
Bloo
m &
fall
colo
r
lily-
of- t
he- v
alle
y‘D
ora´
Lila
ceae
(R
usca
ceae
)T
PT
PT
Con
valla
ria
maj
alis
9”/2
4”+
May
Whi
teG
reen
Bold
Und
er tr
ees,
deep
shad
e, cu
tVe
ry a
ggre
ssiv
e;
hard
to e
radi
-ca
te; f
ragr
ant
hybr
id re
d ch
ry-
sant
hem
um‘C
lara
Cur
tis,´
‘Mar
y St
oker
´A
ster
acea
eP
PP
Den
dran
them
a ru
bellu
m18
”/30
”++
Aug–
Sept
Pink
, yel
low,
sa
lmon
Gra
y- gr
een
Med
Bord
er, c
ut
flow
ers
Very
har
dy
hard
y ag
erat
umA
ster
acea
eP
TT
TP
Eupa
toriu
m
(Con
oclin
um)
coel
estin
um
24”/
36”+
+Au
g– Se
ptBl
ue, w
hite
Gre
enM
edBo
rder
, cut
flo
wer
sC
olon
izes
swee
t woo
druff
Rubi
acea
eT
PP
TP
Gal
ium
odo
r-at
um6”
/18”
+M
ayW
hite
Gre
enFi
neEd
ging
, und
er
shru
bsG
oes d
orm
ant
in su
n; a
rom
atic
fo
liage
bigr
oot c
rane
sbill
‘Bev
an’s
Varie
ty,´
‘Ingw
erso
n’s
Varie
ty´
Ger
ania
ceae
TP
PT
PG
eran
ium
mac
-ro
rhiz
zum
12”/
18”+
May
– Jun
eD
ark
pink
Ligh
t gre
enM
ediu
mU
nder
shru
bs,
edgi
ngEv
ergr
een;
som
e w
inte
r red
; ar
omat
ic
yello
w a
rcha
ngel
‘Var
iega
tum
´La
mia
ceae
TP
PT
PLa
mia
stru
m
gale
obdo
lon
12”/
24”+
May
– Jun
eYe
llow
Gre
en/w
hite
Med
ium
Col
or co
ntra
st,
dry
shad
eVe
ry in
vasiv
e;
root
s rap
idly
&
hard
to d
ig o
ld
crow
ns
cree
ping
lily
turf
Lila
ceae
(Rus
ca-
ceae
)T
PT
TP
TP
Lirio
pe sp
icat
a8”
/24”
+Ju
ly– A
ugV
iole
t, w
hite
Gre
enFi
neEd
ger,
text
ure
cont
rast
, wee
d ba
rrie
r
Sem
i- eve
rgre
en;
com
pete
s with
tr
ee ro
ots
goos
enec
k lo
oses
trife
Prim
ulac
eae
TP
PT
Lysim
achi
a cl
ethr
oide
s30
”/60
+”Ju
ne– J
uly
Whi
teG
reen
Med
ium
Col
oniz
er,
inte
rest
ing
form
in
flow
er
Agg
ress
ive
cree
ping
Jenn
y, m
oney
wor
t‘A
urea
´Pr
imul
acea
eP
TP
TLy
simac
hia
num
mul
aria
2”/2
4”+
May
Yello
wG
reen
Fine
Bios
wal
es, u
nder
sh
rubs
, sha
deRo
ots a
t nod
es;
take
s lim
ited
foot
traffi
c
spea
rmin
t, m
int
‘Ken
tuck
y C
olo-
nel,´
‘Cho
cola
te,´
‘Ora
nge,´
man
y ot
hers
Lam
iace
aeP
TT
PM
enth
a sp
icat
a,
Men
tha
spp.
18”/
36”+
Aug–
Sept
Lila
c, pi
nkG
reen
Med
ium
Scen
t, po
llina
-to
rs, c
ulin
ary
Runs
and
runs
an
d ru
ns
beeb
alm
‘Jaco
b K
line,´
‘P
urpl
e Ro
oste
r,´
‘Gra
nd P
arad
e,´
othe
rs
Lam
iace
aeP
TP
TM
onar
da
didy
ma
36”/
60”
June
– Jul
yLa
vend
er, r
ed,
pink
, whi
teG
reen
Med
ium
Cut,
hum
min
g-bi
rds,
pond
ed
ges
Cho
ose
mild
ew- r
esist
ant
culti
vars
Japa
nese
pac
hys-
andr
a‘G
reen
She
en,´
‘Silv
er E
dge´
Buxa
ceae
TP
PP
Pach
ysan
dra
term
inal
is6”
/18”
+Ap
ril– M
ayW
hite
Gre
enFi
neU
nder
shru
bs o
r tr
ees,
slope
sBu
rns i
n su
n;
leaf
blig
ht, r
oot
rot,
scal
e
mos
s phl
oxm
any
Pole
mon
iace
aeP
TP
TP
Phlo
x su
bula
ta3”
/24”
+Ap
ril– M
ayPi
nk, b
lue,
whi
teG
reen
Fine
Slop
es, p
oor
alka
line
soils
, w
alls
Cen
ters
can
be
com
e op
en;
shea
r
oran
ge st
onec
rop
‘Wei
hens
tepn
aner
,´ ‘V
arie
gatu
m´
Cra
ssul
acea
eP
TT
PP
Sedu
m
kam
tsch
atic
um6”
/18”
+Ju
ne– J
uly
Yello
wG
reen
Med
ium
Mas
s, slo
pes,
roof
sH
uge
num
bers
of
sedu
ms
avai
labl
e fo
r gr
ound
cove
r
two-
row
st
onec
rop
‘Dra
gon’s
Blo
od,´
‘Eliz
abet
h,´
‘Voo
doo´
Cra
ssul
acea
eP
TT
PP
Sedu
m sp
uriu
m6”
/18”
+Ju
ne– J
uly
Pink
, red
Redd
ish b
onze
Fine
Mas
s, slo
pes,
roof
sM
any
culti
vars
; bl
end
with
ot
hers
woo
dlan
d st
onec
rop
Cra
ssul
acea
eT
PT
PP
Sedu
m te
rnat
um10
”/18
”Ju
neW
hite
Gre
enFi
neSh
ade,
woo
dlan
dU
nusu
al fo
r dr
ier s
hade
lam
bsea
r‘H
elen
e vo
n St
ein,
´ ‘Si
lver
C
arpe
t,’ ‘B
ig E
ars´
Lam
iace
aeP
TP
TP
Stac
hys l
anat
a12
”/24
”Ju
nePu
rple
Silv
erBo
ldEd
ger,
cont
rast
Mus
t hav
e go
od
drai
nage
foam
flow
er‘D
ark
Eye,´
‘Slic
k Ro
ck,´
‘Spr
ing
Sym
phon
y´
Saxi
frag
acea
eT
PP
TP
Tiar
ella
co
rdifo
lia9”
/24”
+Ap
rilW
hite
Gre
enFi
neBo
rder
, roc
k w
alls,
woo
dlan
dsRh
izom
atou
s; go
od n
ew
culti
vars
woo
lly
spee
dwel
lSc
roph
ular
iace
aeP
TP
PVe
roni
ca in
cana
12”/
24”
June
Dee
p bl
ueSi
lver
Med
ium
Edge
r, w
alls,
gr
ound
cove
rRo
sette
- typ
e gr
owth
periw
inkl
e,
vinc
a‘L
aGra
ve,´
‘Bow
les,´
‘Ral
ph
Shug
art,´
‘Blu
e &
G
old´
Apoc
ynac
eae
TT
PP
TT
PV
inca
min
or12
”/24
”+M
ayPe
riwin
kle
Gre
enFi
neU
nder
tree
s, sh
rubs
, mas
sed
Ever
gree
n; b
light
ca
n be
a p
robl
em
P= P
refe
rs, T
= T
oler
ates
Figure 2. The rhizomorph and egg of a stinkhorn fungus. The egg is found beneath mulch piles and gives rise to the reddish- orange stalk.
Figure 3. Stinkhorn egg cut in half to view the distinctive internal pattern (photo: Loren Giesler, University of Nebraska— Lincoln).
Figure 4. A blow fly (a) and flesh fly (b) attracted to the smelly gleba produced on the stinkhorn cap.
Figure 5. Stinkhorn eggs exposed after digging through the mulch bed.
Rhizomorphs are often uncovered when digging through the mulch. The egg develops in an archlike fash-ion. As a result, when the egg is cut in half a distinctive pattern is visible on the inside (Figure 3). This pattern is diagnostic and can help distinguish stinkhorn eggs from other things in the landscape that might resemble them, like truffles, puffballs, sedge nutlets, and even acorns.
One rhizomorph can produce up to six eggs. Once the egg is fully developed, it breaks open and the mushroom stalk emerges, growing to maturity (3 to 5 inches tall) in about four to six hours. Growth rates vary depending on the species and environmental conditions. As the mush-room stalk matures, it forms a red, orange, or brown bell- shaped cap near the tapered tip. The cap contains the sticky, slimy, spore- bearing gleba. Stinkhorn fungi get their name from the foul odor produced by the gleba. Although many consider this smell to be quite putrid, the odor is, in fact, a unique adaptaion for the fungus. Many fungi in the Phallaceae family attract insects to facilitate the spread of their reproductive spores. The foul smell of stinkhorn fungi attracts several species of flies (Figure 4) and beetles. The insects consume the gleba, and the spores that stick to their legs and abdomen are then distributed in other locations.
Favorable Environmental and Growing Conditions
Stinkhorn fungi prefer cooler temperatures and are most likely to appear in moist areas with high organic matter, such as mulched landscaping beds. They appear to prefer hardwood bark mulch over pine mulch or pine needles. Stinkhorns are frequently found in partly shaded beds, but they may develop in thin turf, too.
Management
No chemical product is available to prevent stinkhorn fungi or remove them once they appear. Luckily, the fruit-ing bodies of stinkhorn fungi are short- lived and last only a few days to a week in the landscape. Stinkhorn fungi rarely occur in dry mulch beds or locations in the landscape that receive full sun. Increasing the air circulation and thinning tree canopies or dense shrubs to allow more sunlight to
reach the ground can help dry a location and may help limit the occurrence of stinkhorns (Figure 5). Eliminating the fungi’s food source by reducing the amount of organic matter (grinding tree stumps, removing excess mulch) from the landscape will also help reduce the number of stinkhorns.
Stinkhorn fungi can be removed by hand in the egg stage to prevent the fruiting bodies from emerging or the mushrooms can be picked and discarded away from the home to avoid the odor problem associated with them. Groundcover plants can be used in place of mulch to help reduce the possiblity of stinkhorn emergence. See Table 1 for recommended groundcover plants that grow well in Nebraska and can be used in place of wood mulch.
Resources
For more information, including identification of nui-sance fungi, consult:Huffman, D. M., Tiffany, L. H., Knaphus, G., and Healy, R. A. 2008.
Musrooms and other fungi of the midcontinental United States. Second Edition. University of Iowa Press, Iowa City, IA 52242
McKnight, K. H., and McKnight, V. B. 1987. The complete mush-room hunter: An illustrated guide to finding, harvesting and enjoying wild mushrooms. Houghton Mifflin Company, New York, NY 10003
Extension is a Division of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska– Lincoln cooperating with the Counties and the United States Department of Agriculture.
University of Nebraska– Lincoln Extension educational programs abide with the nondiscrimination policies of the University of Nebraska– Lincoln and the United States Department of Agriculture.
© 2016, The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska on behalf of the University of Nebraska– Lincoln Extension. All rights reserved
This publication has been peer reviewed.
UNL Extension publications are available online at http://extension.unl.edu/publications.
