Roads End Naturalist

Exploring the natural world as we wander at the end of the road


Alien Life Form?

I think the surest sign that there is intelligent life out there in the universe
is that none of it has tried to contact us.

~Bill Watterson

Today’s mystery comes to us courtesy of Beth Howard, a friend and teacher extraordinaire in the Wilmington area. She found this in her yard and sent me a pic hoping I could help her figure out what it is and whether she needed to sell her house. In her message she asked – What the heck is this? Is it some kind of alien life form or a carnivorous plant? That is a tunnel down through it.”

So, what do you think, and why? I’ll give you one clue…it smells a bit bad.

alien yard item
Alien life form or…? (click photo to enlarge) (photo by Beth Howard)

Melissa and I are happy to try to help solve your natural history mysteries (especially if you will allow me to post about it in this blog), so feel free to send me pictures of your alien life forms to roadsendnaturalist@gmail,com.

Comments

12 responses to “Alien Life Form?”

  1. T Wayne Avatar
    T Wayne

    Now that is funny – but so true!

    1. roadsendnaturalist Avatar

      ‘Fraid so, especially these days.

  2. ANNE LESSARD Avatar
    ANNE LESSARD

    via Google Lens, this is an Anemone Stinkhorn (Aseroe Rubra)

  3. Mary Kay Coyle Avatar
    Mary Kay Coyle

    Stinkhorn Fungi – but I see someone beat me to it. I loved your quote today!!! We had a good laugh!!

  4. Sally Avatar
    Sally

    Is it the flower that blooms only every so many years and smells like a corpse?

    Sally G

    >

  5. Brenda Ernest Avatar
    Brenda Ernest

    Oh, I have that bad boy (and its cousins) in my mulched flower beds! Octopus Stinkhorn smells like rotting flesh, sending me searching for a dead animal until I located the offending parties.

  6. tonytomeo Avatar

    That one was not so difficult. It seems that everyone who replied recognizes it.

  7. Mary Sonis Avatar
    Mary Sonis

    ew! Stinkhorn!

    1. roadsendnaturalist Avatar

      Ew, indeed, (although still very cool) but not one I have ever seen…

  8. Tom Harville Avatar
    Tom Harville

    You sure it’s Anthurus archeri,?

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Roads End Naturalist

Exploring the natural world as we wander at the end of the road

Copyright Mike Dunn and Melissa Dowland