Phallus drewesii, named after Dr. Robert Drewes of the California Academy of Sciences, is a 2 inch long phallus-shaped mushroom that grows on wood, smells like rotting meat and curves awkwardly downward.
Upon discovering that the new species would be named after him, Drewes remarked: “It is a wonderful honour and great fun to have this phallus-shaped fungus named after me. I have been immortalized in the scientific record.”
Recently discovered by researchers on the African island of São Tomé, the new species is a type of stinkhorn mushroom. Stinkhorns are usually distinguished by their foul odor, which is made to attract flies and other insects who consume the spores and disperse them. There are 28 other species of stinkhorn, but Phallus drewesii is unique in that it is so small and curves downward instead of upward.

Scientists who identified the new species also said that the mushroom can elongate for over four hours after emerging from an egg.

Among the many reasons cited by discoverers for naming the fungus after Drewes was his “fortitude” and “inspiration”. Over the years, the honoured scientist has been on 36 expeditions to 19 African countries. But it’s the islands of São Tomé and Príncipe which have garnered most of his attention in recent years, where he has organized four multidisciplinary expeditions since 2001. Phallus drewesii was one of 225 fungus species that were collected during the 2006 and 2008 expeditions.

The puny phallus-shaped shroom isn’t the only species to bear the weight of immortalizing Drewes’ name in the scientific record. Two other species have also been named after him: a blind worm snake from Kenya and a tiny South African moss frog.

The discovery will be showcased in the upcoming issue of the journal Mycologia, where a picture of Drewes’ mushroom will be featured confidently on the cover.

Source: GO Media - Written by Bryan Nelson - Image Credit: California Academy of Sciences, Brian Perry

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