Unusual in appearance and terrible smell, the **latticed stinkhorn**—also called the basket stinkhorn—stands out among other mushrooms. Its unique appearance comes from its spongelike outside, which mimics a red cage or lattice construction. The bad odour the mushroom produces—often compared to rotting flesh—helps to define the moniker "stinkhorn." This smell is quite important since it draws insects that help distribute the spores of the fungus.
Particularly in warm climates as the Mediterranean and coastal North America, latticed stinkhorns are seen growing in leaf litter, grassy areas, garden soil, and mulches. Usually starting from an egg-like form, they develop by means of a lattice expanding and assuming their unique shape.
Latticed stinkhorns are not dangerous even with their unusual look and scent. Still, their bad taste and smell usually make them unappealing. In the discipline of mycology, their unusual form and ecological function make them an intriguing topic of research.
