common stinkhorn

9.3

A mushroom with a strong bad smell that attracts flies

noun
/ˈkɒmən ˈstɪŋkˌhɔrn/

: falo común

The foul smell of the common stinkhorn attracts flies, which help spread its spores.

Examples

The common stinkhorn can often be found in damp woodland during late summer and autumn.
Gardeners were surprised to discover a common stinkhorn growing near the compost heap.
The common stinkhorn emits a strong odor.
Have you ever seen a common stinkhorn in the wild?
The common stinkhorn has a distinctive shape and emits a foul odor that attracts insects.
During a nature walk, we encountered a common stinkhorn near the trail, releasing an unpleasant smell.
In late summer, the common stinkhorn can be found in various damp areas, often surprising hikers with its odor.

Synonyms

Phallus impudicus

vscommon stinkhorn

Specialized

9.9

A common mushroom that smells strong and grows in damp woods

is the everyday name describing the widespread foul smelling fungus

Surface Forms

common stinkhorn singular

common stinkhorns plural

Morphology

common + stinkhorn

The phrase simply combines 'common' (widespread) with 'stinkhorn' (a foul-smelling fungus), so the meaning 'a widespread species of smelly fungus' is directly derivable from the constituents. This adjective + noun composition is a regular, compositional pattern familiar across languages, so a B1 learner who knows both words would understand it.

Etymology

Common stinkhorn gets its name from the mushroom's strong, bad stink and from its tall, pointed shape that looks like a horn. The bad smell attracts flies that spread its spores, so the name helps us remember it is 'smelly' and 'horn-shaped'.