Colus

Colus is a genus of fungi in the family Phallaceae, commonly known as stinkhorns. It is placed in the order Phallales, within the class Agaricomycetes of the division Basidiomycota. Members of Colus produce conspicuous fruiting bodies that emerge from an enclosed, egg-like structure. Some Colus species form latticed or cage-like receptacula, a characteristic shared with related genera such as Clathrus. The mature fruiting body typically consists of a hollow stalk supporting a perforated, net-like cap; the gleba covering the lattice is greenish to olive-brown and emits a foul odor that attracts flies, which help disperse the spores.

The life cycle begins with a compact underground or partially subterranean "egg," in which the immature fruiting body develops. Under suitable moisture and temperature, it rapidly expands to the aerial form. Colus species are saprotrophic, feeding on decaying plant matter such as wood chips, leaf litter, and mulch, contributing to nutrient cycling in natural and human-modified habitats. They are widely distributed in temperate regions across the globe and are most common after rainfall.

Colus is one of several stinkhorn genera, and its taxonomy has been refined with molecular studies aligning it within Phallaceae. The name Colus has also appeared in other historical or geographical contexts, but in mycological usage it refers to this group of fungi.