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Edibility
Inedible
Lookalike Danger
1 / 5
Habitat
🪵 Mulched gardens
Season
Apr – Jul🌱 Now
"Hollow lattice of bright red arms hatching from a white egg. Introduced from the Mediterranean; now naturalized in coastal California gardens. Disturbing form, foul smell, photogenic."
This species is found with or partners with the following hosts. Ectomycorrhizal hosts (green border) form a root-level partnership; ericoid / arbutoid shrubs (purple border) share the same mycorrhizal networks.

Landscape hardwood chip mulch — wine cap, bird’s nest fungi, dog-vomit slime mold. A great backyard cultivation substrate.
A hollow lattice of bright red arms that hatches from a soft white egg — bizarre even by stinkhorn standards. Introduced to North America from the Mediterranean (where it is native); now well-established in coastal California garden beds. Foul smell, photogenic form.
Mulched gardens and disturbed soil in coastal California from San Diego to Mendocino, with scattered populations elsewhere. Native to southern Europe and the Mediterranean basin. Fruits April through July.

Min Soil Temp
55°F
Moisture Need
rain 0.5in 7d
Drought Tolerance
moderate
Elevation Range
0–10,064 ft
Different form — separate pink-red columns instead of a connected lattice. Same family.
Mulched gardens
Photograph it and log your observation on iNaturalist. The community can help confirm your ID — always get confirmation before eating.