Like other stinkhorns, Clathrus columnatus arises from a partially submerged egg that is attached to the ground with long cords. There is no stem; two to five hollow arms reach upwards, out of the egg, and join at the top -- like columns that are holding an olive-like brown slime ball. The inner surfaces of the arms are covered with stinkhorn slime, which also has a foul odor and attracts flies; the flies are the mushroom's method for dispersing spores.
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I stumbled upon these individuals. . . thinking that there was something dead on the lakeshore. It smells like. . . well. . .death. Conditions are perfect for more stinkhorns to emerge in coming days (wet, warm).
They are quite pretty in extreme close-up. The smell, not so much.
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