column stinkhorn

plural column stinkhorns

1. A fungus, Clathrus columnatus, featuring two to five orange or red vertical columns joined at the top, and a fetid gleba.

   Clathrus columnatus, the scientific name for the column stinkhorn, is a north Florida native which is common to many gulf coast locales. This colorful fungus has also been known by the common name “dead man’s fingers,” among other labels.

   2019 April 19, “Colorful ‘dead man’s fingers’ emits foul odor”, in Tallahassee Democrat, page C3

   1 more example

   Clathrus columnatus, a k a column stinkhorn, arises the same way all stinkhorn fungi do — via a subterranean “egg” that, when mature, sprouts a fruiting body that can appear in a variety of shapes (starburst, squid, basket or wiffle ball, zombie hand, etc., but, in this case, columnlike). The fruiting body, in turn, produces an olive-colored slime and that gut-wrenching, carrionlike stench so attractive to flies.

   2010, “Urban Forager: Season of Stinky Cheese Puffs”, in New York Times