Stinkhorn Mushroom

Man you just can't make up anything stranger than reality.

Jackee saw this when she came home from the store. It had popped up next to the hedge. It is about the size of a tennis ball.

Properly known as Clathrus crispus, or commonly as the lattice stinkhorn, it first appears to be a toy ball being it is a bright red color. It secretes a stinky sticky goo on the inside that attracts flies and ants who either pick up spores on their feet or ingest them and then spread the spores around.

For more info see: http://www.mushroomexpert.com/clathrus_crispus.html