Ravenel's Stinkhorn

Click on any image to open the slideshow

This stinkhorn is probably Phallus ravenelii, and is found in eastern North America. The genus name referring to the shape of the mature fruiting body. These fungi emit a putrid aroma, attracting flies that help distribute the stinkhorn spores.
For more information on these stinkhorns, visit Mushroom Expert.
I had originally thought that this was one of the Mutinus species - dog stinkhorns - which usually have pinkish fruiting bodies. Thanks to Bill Petty of Florida Fungi for helping me out with this one.

Kingdom: Fungi
  Phylum: Basidiomycota
    Class: Basidiomycetes
      Order: Phallales
        Family: Phallaceae
          Genus: Phallus
            Species: ravenelii

For a taxonomic tree and links to other fungi posted on Wild Florida Photo see the Fungi at Wild Florida Photo page.