Gardens, wood-chip mulch and disturbed ground, also broadleaf woodland

Inedible — foul smell

• ▸ Starts as a whitish, leathery 'egg' at the base
• ▸ Opens into 4–6 (rarely 8) bright red, tentacle-like arms
• ▸ Inner surfaces covered with a dark, olive-brown spore mass (gleba)
• ▸ Strong smell of rotting flesh

Originally from Australasia, now a widespread invasive species across Europe; the odour attracts flies that disperse the spores.