"Freshly" emerged stinkhorns, note the fly perched to the right
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A little further along, the egg-like structure that the stinkhorn emerged from visible at the base
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The fetid green slime on the top contains reproductive spores presumably distributed by insects attracted by the odor
Click on image to see its original size
Just looking at the photos recalls the odor. Roger Phillips (Mushrooms of North America) describes the smell as "a very fetid odor" and mentions Netted Stinkhorn is edible in the early "egg" phase and in the same sentence advises against eating them, duh!!! :-)
-AJ
