Herpetologist Robert Drewes will forever be remembered for his two-inch Phallus.

[progressoid]

Penis-shaped mushroom named after frog expert

Herpetologist Robert Drewes will forever be remembered for his two-inch Phallus.

In the upcoming issue of the journal Mycologia, scientists describe a new species of stinkhorn fungus from Africa, which they christened Phallus drewesii in honor of their expedition leader.

“I am utterly delighted,” Drewes told the San Jose Mercury News, “The funny thing is that it is the second smallest known mushroom in this genus and it grows sideways, almost limp.”

...

In 2006, he made the mistake of bringing along his longtime friend, Dennis Desjardin, a mushroom expert at San Francisco State University who recognized the phallic fungus sprouting from a piece of wood as new to science. Stinkhorns like Phallus drewsii, are found mostly in the tropics and their characteristic shape helps them emit an odor of dung or carrion that attracts flies to disperse their spores. The stinkhorn was one of 225 fungus species that expedition scientists collected during two trips to the region, and it is the third species named after Drewes, who also has a snake and a frog to call his own.


Image of stinkhorn courtesy Brian Perry

http://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/60-second-science/post.cfm?id=penis-shaped-mushroom-named-after-s-2009-06-15

[mikelgb]

1. omg this story is too easy

your phallus mushroom tip smells like shit

[progressoid]

3. The possibilities are endless.

It's not the size that matters, it's...umm...how you saute it?

[MineralMan]

2. That there's obseen, damnit. Little chirren walkin' in the woods

might see that thing and be trawmatised. That does it! No chirren of mine is gonna be aloud in the woods!

[eppur_se_muova]

4. Stinkhorns are a sign of Spring.

Not really, but I like to think that. :D