Picture Taken September 1

A fungus that is related to the stinkhorns and does stink. The odor attracts flies which disperse the spores. It grows in mulch and the fruiting body does look somewhat like a squid or, some say, lobster or crab claws. It has three to four red-orange "tentacles". Quite bizarre. It is scattered throughout the world. This is the first time I have seen it up here in Boone, although it is said to be common in Chapel Hill.

Clathraceae (Basidiomycetes, Fungus)

Basket Stinkhorn Family