 The young fruiting bodies are initially white and spherical or egg @-@ shaped , partially submerged in the ground , with dimensions of 2 to 3 cm ( 0 @.@ 8 to 1 @.@ 2 in ) by 1 to 2 cm ( 0 @.@ 4 to 0 @.@ 8 in ) . As the fruit body matures , the egg ruptures and the spongy spore @-@ bearing stalk emerges ; fully grown , it may be from 1 to 15 cm ( 0 @.@ 4 to 5 @.@ 9 in ) long and 1 @.@ 5 to 2 cm ( 0 @.@ 6 to 0 @.@ 8 in ) thick . The stalk is hollow and strongly wrinkled overall ; its shape is cylindrical below , but it gradually tapers to a narrow apex with a small opening at the tip . The upper half of the stalk is bright red to reddish orange , and the color gradually loses intensity transforming into pinkish white below . The stalk may be straight , or slightly curved . A gelatinous greenish @-@ brown gleba covers the upper third of the stalk in newly emerged specimens . The remains of the " egg " forms a volva around the base of the stalk . The odor of the gleba is foul ; one author describes it as " sickly sweet or metallic " . The spores are a greenish @-@ brown color . Fruit bodies are attached to the substrate by whitish rhizomorphs that resemble plant roots . American mycologist Smith noted that the eggs are often slow to open , sometimes taking up to two weeks before the stalk expands . 
 The young fruiting bodies <a href='drop_aux' title='1'><mark>are</mark></a>initially white and spherical or egg @-@ shaped , partially submerged in the ground , with dimensions of 2 to 3 cm ( 0 @.@ 8 to 1 @.@ 2 in ) by 1 to 2 cm ( 0 @.@ 4 to 0 @.@ 8 in ) . As the fruit body <a href='uninflect' title='2'><mark>matures</mark></a> , the egg ruptures and the spongy spore @-@ bearing stalk <a href='uninflect' title='3'><mark>emerges</mark></a> ; fully grown , it may be from 1 to 15 cm ( 0 @.@ 4 to 5 @.@ 9 in ) long and 1 @.@ 5 to 2 cm ( 0 @.@ 6 to 0 @.@ 8 in ) thick . The stalk is hollow and strongly wrinkled overall ; its shape is cylindrical below , but it gradually <a href='uninflect' title='4'><mark>tapers</mark></a> to a narrow apex with a small opening at the tip . The upper half of the stalk <a href='drop_aux' title='5'><mark>is</mark></a>bright red to reddish orange , and the color gradually <a href='uninflect' title='6'><mark>loses</mark></a> intensity transforming into pinkish white below . The stalk may be straight , or slightly curved . A gelatinous greenish @-@ brown gleba <a href='uninflect' title='7'><mark>covers</mark></a> the upper third of the stalk in newly emerged specimens . The remains of the " egg " <a href='uninflect' title='8'><mark>forms</mark></a> a volva around the base of the stalk . The odor of the gleba is foul ; one author <a href='uninflect' title='9'><mark>describes</mark></a> it as " sickly sweet or metallic " . The spores <a href='drop_aux' title='10'><mark>are</mark></a>a greenish @-@ brown color . Fruit bodies are attached to the substrate by whitish rhizomorphs that resemble plant roots . American mycologist Smith noted that the eggs are often slow to open , sometimes taking up to two weeks before the stalk <a href='uninflect' title='11'><mark>expands</mark></a> . 
Da young fruiting bodies initially white and spherical or egg @-@ shaped , partially submerged in tdaground , with dimensions of 2 to 3 cm ( 0 @.@ 8 to 1 @.@ 2 in ) by 1 to 2 cm ( 0 @.@ 4 to 0 @.@ 8 in ) . As the fruit body mature , thdagg ruptures and the spongy spore @-@ bearing stalk emerge ; fully grown , it may be from 1 to 15 cm ( 0 @.@ 4 to 5 @.@ 9 in ) long and 1 @.@ 5 to 2 cm ( 0 @.@ 6 to 0 @.@ 8 in ) thick . The stalk is hollow and strongly wrinkled overall ; its shape is cylindrical below , but it gradually taper to a narrow apex with a small opening at the tip . The upper half of the stalk bright red to reddish orange , and the color gradually lose intensity transforming into pinkish white below . The stalk may be straight , or slightly curved . A gelatinous greenish @-@ brown gleba cover the upper third of thedaalk in newly emerged specimens . The remains of the dagg " form a volva around the base of the stalk . The odor of the gleba is foul ; one author describe it as " sickly sweet or metallic " . The spores a greenish @-@ brown color . Fruit bodies are attached to the substrate by whitish rhizomorphs dat resemble plant roots . American mycologist Smith noted tdatthe eggs r often slow to open , sometimes taking up to two weeks b4 the stalk expand .