Phallus hadriani, the dune or sand stinkhorn, resembles the common stinkhorn (P. impudicus) but hatches from a rosy-pink to violet egg and keeps a pink volva. It grows in sandy soils, including coastal dunes, lawns and gardens. The name is applied inconsistently in North America, and MushroomExpert notes that no modern usage matches the 1798 original description.
Eggs are eaten in parts of Central Europe and in China; mature fruit bodies are avoided because of their smell. Identify eggs only after cutting them lengthwise to see the gelatinous layer and the developing stalk and head inside.
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Habitat
Saprobic in sandy soils, including public lawns, yards and gardens; largely confined to coastal dunes in Great Britain. In North America often associated with stumps or decaying roots.
Distribution
Native to Eurasia and North America; recorded from many European countries, Turkey, Japan and China (Jilin); probably introduced to Australia with woodchip mulch. North American use of the name is inconsistent.
Characteristics
Egg: 4-6 x 3-4 cm, rosy pink to violet, usually buried, with rhizomorphs at the base. Stem: White to cream, hollow, spongy and honeycombed; mature fruit bodies 10-20 cm tall, 3-4 cm thick. Head: Reticulate, ridged and pitted, covered with olive-green spore slime (gleba). Volva: Cup-like, usually staying pink, sometimes browning. Odor: Faint and violet-like according to some authors, fetid according to others. Key features: Pink to violet egg and volva; fruit bodies last one or two days.
