'Squid' 'shroom?

[Yug]

Found this last Saturday growing in three patches. I have no idea what it is. Anyone that could shed some light on it would be appreciated.

[ksriramkumar]

Alien droppings.....

[eeyore]

This was the closest thing I could find - Hunter Valley Backyard Nature: #5 Strange Stinkhorns. They do look like something alien!

[PaphMadMan]

Yeah, some kind of stinkhorn fungus, or an alien invasion. If we never hear from you again we'll know which one it is.

[Cjcorner]

Look up puffball mushrooms. When they release their spores they burst open like that. We get them on the side of our garage.

[Yug]

I checked the puff-balls and couldn't find anything that close. Some of the stink-horns are similar, but a different color, and the tentacles are different.

[Carolla]

They look almost like sea anemones to me, but they wouldn't be growing on your lawn! I think you have lawn monsters!

On further research, there is a sea anemone mushroom that looks like that, but the top is red. They smell bad. Maybe yours are old and faded? Maybe you've discovered something new! Here is a link to sea anemone mushrooms in HI:
http://mushroaming.com/MushRoaming_Hawaii_2008

[Yug]

ID'd! It is aseroe arachnoidea, and grows in shade popping up after a good rain. Seems to love well broken down manure, too.

[PaphMadMan]

Alien invasion averted! I still wouldn't be surprised to see one of those reaching for something warm-blooded to eat.

Genus Aseroe is in the fungus family Phallacaea - the stinkhorns.