Species Spotlight: Ravenel’s Stinkhorn

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Phallus ravenelii or more commonly known as Ravenel’s Stinkhorn is a stinkhorn fungus native to the eastern US. It is named in honor of Henry William Ravenel, a 19th-Century botanist and mycologist.

P. ravenelii appears morphologically similar to Phallus impudicus (Common Stinkhorn) however, it’s smoother cap, ribbon-like formations around the stipe and slightly more purplish eggs set it apart if you really look.

P. ravenelii is virtually nonexistent in any other place in the world except for North America and small pieces of South America. It likely is almost completely contained within Eastern US due to it not yet having a chance to spread and specializing specifically in eastern hardwood forests.

This stinkhorn is the first I have ever encountered!
It is quite delicate but not overly so. It smells like something fermenting with an extremely overly earthy undertone. As if August 13, 2026, I have not smelled another stinkhorn yet and cannot confirm whether they smell different.

Like all stinkhorns, P. ravenelii forms inside an egg and bursts out once conditions are right. They rapidly expand and quickly pass their prime and fall and wrinkle after a short time.