Mutinus elegans (Montagne) Fisch. syn. Mutinus curtisii (Berk.) Fisch. Elegant Stinkhorn/. Fruit body initially a semi-submerged "egg" 1-2cm across, white to rose-pink; this ruptures and the spongy, spore-bearing stem emerges. Stem 100-180 x 10-20mm, tapering at apex to an acute point, with small opening at tip; bright reddish orange, fading at base; composed of uniform, undifferentiated cells visible to the naked eye (0.25-0.5mm), surface of cells sealed, not open like sponge; most of upper half covered in dark olive to blackish spore mass, which soon liquefies. Odor strong, not especially unpleasant, sickly sweet or metallic. Spores elliptical, smooth, 4-7 x 2-3µ. Habitat in leaf litter, woody debris, and rich soil. Common. Found from Quebec to Florida and west to Great Lakes. Season July-September. Edible in egg stage but not recommended. Comment Also illustrated is a pink-stemmed form, in which the dark spore mass is limited to the upper position and the stem itself narrows beneath that division. There has been much confusion over this stinkhorn, but I think it will turn out to be Mutinus ravenelii (Berk. & Curt.). The two stinkhorns illustrated need further study.