Stinkhorn

I was really pleased to find this little rascal in the woods behind work at lunchtime, it is the first time I have seen it.

This is the dog stinkhorn (Mutinus caninus) similar to this one that I spotted in August when we were away in the Lakes.

It erupts from an egg like growth, the greenish brown slime at the top contains the spores, the flies that are attracted to the slime spread the spores. When all the slime has gone it leaves an orange tip exposed.