 Mutinus elegans was first described by British missionary John Banister in 1679 who chronicled the natural history of Virginia ; this early report is thought to be the first account of a fungus in North America . It was first characterized scientifically by French scientist Jean Pierre François Camille Montagne in 1856 , who called it Corynites elegans . The genus name Mutinus refers to a phallic deity , Mutinus Mutunus , one of the Roman di indigetes placated by Roman brides . The species is commonly known variously as the " elegant stinkhorn " , the " headless stinkhorn " , the " dog stinkhorn " , or the " devil 's dipstick " . The specific epithet elegans is derived from the Latin word meaning " graceful " or " elegant " . 
 Mutinus elegans was first described by British missionary John Banister in 1679 <a href='null_relcl' title='1'><mark>who</mark></a>chronicled the natural history of Virginia ; this early report is thought to be the first account of a fungus in North America . It was first characterized scientifically by French scientist Jean Pierre François Camille Montagne in 1856 , <a href='null_relcl' title='2'><mark>who</mark></a>called it Corynites elegans . The genus name Mutinus <a href='uninflect' title='3'><mark>refers</mark></a> to a phallic deity , Mutinus Mutunus , one of the Roman di indigetes placated by Roman brides . The species is commonly known variously as the " elegant stinkhorn " , the " headless stinkhorn " , the " dog stinkhorn " , or the " devil <a href='null_genetive' title='4'><mark>'s</mark></a>dipstick " . The specific epithet elegans is derived from the Latin word meaning " graceful " or " elegant " . 
Mutinus elegans was first described by British missionary John Banister in 1679 chronicled da natural history of Virginia ; this early report is thought to be tdafirst account of a fungus in North America . It was first characterized scientifically by French scientist Jean Pierre François Camille Montagne in 1856 , called it Corynites elegans . The genus name Mutinus refer to a phallic deity , Mutinus Mutunus , one of thdaoman di indigetes placated by Roman brides . Thedaecies is commonly known variously as the " elegant stinkhorn " , the daeadless stinkhorn " , the "dag stinkhorn " , or the " dail  dipstick " . The specific epithet elegans is derived from the Latin word meaning " graceful " or " elegant " .