Solitary caramel cap (¾"?) sprouted from beneath mulch, then soon splayed to 4" across. Caramel-coloured surface layer stretched apart to reveal tannish-cream material beneath. (Second image was taken 3 days before the rest, before splaying.)
Habitat – Found beneath the leaves of a cultivated bottle gourd plant (Cucurbita moschata) in a home vegetable garden, where work has been done to amend the native, poorly draining and fairly saline soil. It's mycelium is in the soil (not so much the mulch).
Odor – 24 hours after separating the cap and placing under a bowl, it has developed an odor. Sweet. Somewhat funk. Lightly earthy, but not rooty or musty. Evokes the thought of a tasty food. But a funky tasty food. It smells like how soggy bread feels. It is familiar, yet not identifiable. Sweaty pits are a little bit reminiscent of this smell, but without sharpness or acidity. If a vegetable had to be named, it would be limp romaine lettuce.
This plant hurts a lot. Do not rub it. It was found growing around the shed at eaton canyon.
A cactus-like plant with pointy stems protruding from all sides