Not all mushrooms are created equal. Some will make you downright ill or cause death if ingested. One such mushroom is in the ‘stinkhorn’ family. The stinkhorn mushroom in the photo to your left was found in Kalmia Gardens in Hartsville, South Carolina. It is the Linderia columnata or the Clathrus columnatus mushroom.
To belie that fact that they are definitely not edible this mushroom emerges from an ‘egg’ attached to the ground with long tendrils. These tendrils rise up to form this incredible looking structure like an artistic archway. The coral color makes it attractive to insects especially flies which are enticed to lunch by the rotten smell of this stinkhorn. The mushroom uses the fly as a method to disperse spores.
Controlling mushroom growth can be problematic as they contain thousands of spores that are spread by wind and brushing against the mushroom cap or fruit of the plant. Getting rid of the woody mulch in which the mushroom grows is key; removing dead tree roots and, moving the soil around after digging the mushrooms will keep the mushroom root from growing.
There are available chemical treatments for a large infestation of mushrooms or you can mix your own potion of two tablespoons of baking soda to one gallon of water, mixing well then using a spray bottle spray the soil and the mushrooms.
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