WARNING! X-Rated photos

DOG STINKHORNS -- Mutinus Caninus

Photos by REBEKAH CRESHKOFF -- taken in Central Park on Sunday, October 23, 2011

from Wikipedia:

Mutinus caninus, commonly known as the dog stinkhorn, is a small thin, phallus-shaped woodland fungus, with a dark tip. It is often found growing in small groups on wood debris, or in leaf litter, during summer and autumn in Europe, Asia, and eastern North America. It is not generally considered edible, although there are reports of the immature 'eggs' being consumed.

PS from Marie: Talking about x-rated, one of the common stinkhorns you might also find in Central Park is the Phallus impudicus [see below]. When my sister and I were children, coming upon one of these while mushroom hunting with our father would send us into uncontrollable giggles.

Phallus impudicus