Division Basidiomycota > Class Agaricomycetes > Order Phallales > Family Phallaceae.
There are around 27 Phallus species.
Seen singly or in clusters they grow rapidly from an egg up to around 3 cm across.
The egg is attached to the underground mycelium by a rhizomorph.
Rhizomorphs are thick bundles of the hyphae which make up the mycelium.
Remnants of the egg may remain as a volva.
The hollow white spongy stalk (receptaculum) is up to 20 cm high.
The conical cap at the top has a hole in the centre.
The cap may have a net-like skirt (indusium) hanging down from the edge.
The indusium can be white, orange or yellow.
Spores, produced inside the cap are in the dark greenish-yellow gleba on it.
J.F.
