When it matures, it changes very quickly. The egg splits open and a tall, sponge-like stalk rises in just a matter of hours, which is one reason people often find it so surprising and eerie when they come across one in the woods.
Its smell is what makes it especially famous. Once fully grown, the stinkhorn produces a strong odor like rotting flesh or decay, which can be shocking to anyone nearby. But that smell is not accidental — it serves an important purpose.
Instead of relying on wind to spread spores, the stinkhorn attracts flies and beetles with its foul scent. The insects land on the slimy cap, pick up the spores, and carry them elsewhere, making the mushroom’s unpleasant smell a clever survival strategy.
