Promise that you will take some more photographs when these open up, which won't take long. Just leave them alone to develop. These will be spectacular. glib, what you've said about mycorrhizal relationships is true (though stinkhorns are almsot always associated with hardwood trees), but removing the fruiting body does not take away the mycorrhizae. That part of the fungus organism is alive and well in the soil. Spaghetina, stinkhorns (including your lattice species) are often brought in with hardwood mulch. I've also seen it appear on or near the stumps and dead roots of hardwoods that have been removed. Just doing some recycling.

Yep, they are so frieky, the dog stinkhorn fungus. I have a photo of them in my Yahoo garden album. I posted it at the Carolina Gardening Forum, thinking it was a local native. I got my answer the saem day. This website is terrific. Great pic of a slimy subject.

this is an "ink cap". :) Pretty usual in Norway, where I grew up. They are considered very good to eat; when they are young as the one you have a picture of. When they get old, and the "ink" comes out, you should not pick them for consumtion. Also; to rinse them; cut off the top cap (very visible on your picture), - it's woody, and not very good. I've tried them in curry dishes... Delicious! :) Oh; a funny sidenote... Me, my then husband on our way home from a gala happening. Me... long gown and high heels. Dark fall night, - then passing a large lawn in front of a big incorparated... it was FULL of "ink caps". I yelled STOP! grabbed a few platic bags tied my gown up around my waist, and went mushroming.... *g* Just happy nobody saw me! *lol* Check your mushrom flora; there is another sort that is grayish, - but also forms ink. This kind is also edible, BUT do NOT drink wine with it, as it contains "antabus" (sp), - you know... the antidote for alcoholics. Enjoy your mushroming! Britt

go to photobucket .... COPY the TAG line.. and PASTE it into the body of a followup to your post... and when you hit preview.. the picture ought to show up .. then send it... if you did it wrong.. it wont be in the preview... and it wont be in the posting ... i tried pasting the address you posted.. and it did NOT provide the picture... good luck ken