Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Things are Really Going to the Dogs Around Here

First it was Madness, and now this: I went out to get the mail today and found these growing in the barkdust at the base of the mailbox.


WHAT. THE. HELL???

The one above is apparently more "fresh"... also note that opening pod-thing at the base, which I think is the start of a new one. The one below is further along in its life cycle:


There are also some that are completely shriveled and turned to mush. I didn't notice them yesterday so I'm guessing they have a relatively short/fast life!

Aren't they the weirdest things you have ever seen? Does anyone know what they're called? Obviously they're some sort of fungi but are the freakiest mushrooms I've ever seen! And how would I Google them, anyway? "Mushrooms shaped like dog penis and chicken feet"?

And OH MY GOD, I just Googled it and guess what? It is totally called the Dog Penis Mushroom!!!!

As one blogger said about Googling to search for it, "Took a picture, came back inside, googled 'dog penis mushroom'. Ok: I know better ways to identify living things; I am one of about 230 people who own a copy of G.W. Hudler's classic Magical Mushrooms and Mischievous Molds, for pete's sake. I understand character keys and taxonomy, and I know where to find the online species databases. But when you want to identify a mushroom that looks like a dog's dick, man there's nothing faster than the straightforward approach." So glad I'm not the only one, ha ha!

Here is a photo of another one and it's interesting that she says the mushrooms last about six hours. Here is a page on it, which indicates that I'd better actually pull them up or they will spread--and Jason is obsessed enough about the lawn damage the Verizon guys did, imagine if it started sprouting dog penii everywhere!! It's enough to make one feel faint.

Although I do think I'll put on gloves, first.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

They look very halloweenish to me. At first glance it looked like a bloody finger coming out of the ground. NEVER seen anything like it before...

Rebecca said...

Oh Cam! Good gracious! I have never seen anything so disgusting in my life! Ok, maybe I have, but that is pretty darn gross, if you ask me. And I agree with the other commenter... I thought it was some kind of bloody finger or gross worm thing for Halloween. Ha! Good luck getting rid of them...

Tia said...

LOL! At first I swear it looked like a scary finger, but umm... your vision is much funnier.

So did you taste it? Dog Penii on crisp romaine with a light vinagrette for dinner, perhaps?

Unknown said...

What the heck? never have seen anything like this in my life:) flippin freaky, so perfect for halloween:) Are they seriously called that?!?!?!

Ingrid Parmeter said...

Yuck. But I thought it looked more like a crab leg pulled out of its shell. I heart nature.

secphoto said...

Looks like the beginning of the pod people.

Erin said...

Ew, Ew, EW.

paula :: plays with mud said...

HA! I thought they were crazy Halloween decorations too - wow. The funniest part is reading "penii" - I don't think I've ever seen that word before. hahaha

Wisconsin Girl said...

OMG Cameron...I don't think I've laughed that hard in a long time! Thanks for sharing your interesting find and the even more interesting name:) Too funny!

Katie said...

HYSTERICAL POST! Loved it! I am obsessed with fungi lately so I am mighty jealous of your find.

Lori Hudson said...

Congratulations! You finally found a reason to write the word "penis" on your blog!!!

Tena said...

oh my goodness... this is hysterical, I thought it looked like some mutant carrot at first but damn if it doesn't look like a dog penis.. ewwwww. You are smart to wear gloves for the extraction!!!

Michelle said...

okay, that's the grossest thing i have ever seen. yuck. really hope you are able to get rid of them easily! so i didn't get a chance to ask, but did we really just miss jen l. or did she go to a different location? so fun to see you and catch up and can't wait to get a chance to do it again! xo!

Sasser said...

I just died laughing. Are you serious, they are called that? That is hilarious. They look like chicken feet to me... or a dog's penis... I don't know. I'm just so glad they are by your mailbox and not mine.

So funny!
Kate

Erin Bassett said...

Oh my word, I'm laughing so hard I'm crying!! SO funny!!!!