discover a bright red structure the next morning.
The explanation is that much of the fungus already exists in the soil or decaying organic matter. The visible mushroom is its fruiting body—the reproductive structure that emerges when conditions are suitable.
Stinkhorns often begin as small, egg-shaped structures near the ground. Under favorable conditions, the developing mushroom can expand rapidly, sometimes over the course of a day or two.
That’s why a patch of mulch can suddenly look like the setting of a science-fiction movie!
Why Does the Red Stinkhorn Smell
There’s more to discover. Continue to the next page for the rest of this article.
