Stinkhorns from 2012

Last night, I had just started looking for a colourful image to upload today (2 November 2015) with two dull, brown shots, when I came across a folder of these Stinkhorns. Hadn't uploaded this one, so thought I'd use it. Oh, boy, we need a much brighter, more colourful image than this one this morning, because it's SNOWING! And it's settling, unfortunately. We really can't complain, though, as we have just enjoyed a wonderful fall.

For years, I had wished I could see some kind of Stinkhorn fungus, partly because they make such interesting images : ) On 24 June 2012, friend Phil e-mailed to say that there were all sorts of "things" (he sent a photo) growing locally, where we had seen other fungi growing previously. After a bit of a search that evening, I found these small (this is a telemacro image and they are maybe an inch and a half to 3" in height), pink fungi that I thought must be some species of Stinkhorn. Sure enough, I searched on Google and quickly found them. Wasn't quite sure exactly which species this is, as there were photos of several similar ones. The greeny-brown slime contains the spores.

Thanks to kuteram for the ID: Mutinus elegans! I really appreciated your taking the time to do this!

"The young fruiting bodies are initially white and spherical or egg-shaped, partially submerged in the ground, with dimensions of 2 to 3 cm (0.8 to 1.2 in) by 1 to 2 cm (0.4 to 0.8 in). As the fruit body matures, the egg ruptures and the spongy spore-bearing stalk emerges; fully grown, it may be from 1 to 15 cm (0.4 to 5.9 in) long and 1.5 to 2 cm (0.6 to 0.8 in) thick. The stalk is hollow and strongly wrinkled overall; its shape is cylindrical below, but it gradually tapers to a narrow apex with a small opening at the tip. The upper half of the stalk is bright red to reddish orange, and the color gradually loses intensity transforming into pinkish white below. The stalk may be straight, or slightly curved. A gelatinous greenish-brown gleba covers the upper third of the stalk in newly emerged specimens. The remains of the "egg" forms a volva around the base of the stalk .... Mutinus elegans is saprobic—deriving nutrients by breaking down dead or dying organic matter. It is commonly found in gardens and farm areas enriched with manure, near well-decayed stumps and logs, and in wood chips." From Wikipedia.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mutinus_elegans