Rude and smelly Stinkhorn

This is a fungus I love to find and show people on guided walks...to test their reaction. Often it can be tracked down just from the powerful, sweet fragrance, which I may be one of the few people to like. This far-reaching smell is incredibly attractive to flies which feed on the sticky surface of the cap and end up flying away with spores stuck to their legs.

Now to the rude bit. You don't just have to spot the similarity with the human male member - it is actually called Phallus impudicus. The common name now is Stinkhorn, ignoring it's most striking feature, but in the early botanist Gerard's day is was quite straightforwardly known as 'the Prick Mushroom'. The Victorians found it completely disgusting and offensive and in many woods close to villages it was systematically destroyed before children or delicate ladies could set eyes on it.