I believe this is called Stinkhorn fungi. If so, it will smell like rotting meat or worse, multiplies via blow flies that are attracted to the smell. When it matures, it has a sticky substance on it. It is orange in color. I used Tide powder on some in my yard until I was told that was illegal. Now when I spot one, I spray Roundup directly on it and that seems to work quite well. Unfortunately, you will smell the fungi before you see it, so it may come back. The first one I found looked like a white eyeball embedded in the grass. Local County Ext Agent did not know what it was but researched and called me

I have seen it here in GA, in areas where woody plants are decomposing.

I have a great interest in mushrooms and other fungi as I love to eat them. Not that I wold eat THAT one. It looks like an alien invader and smells like…well, um…crap. I’ve done a little more research on that particular one just for interest, after I posted, and apparently is is sometimes spotted in some of the southeastern states.

wow Parity…good call! How did you find that?

It appears to be an Aseroe rubra, but that is not native to this area…have you transplanted any nearby plants from Australia? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aseroe_rubra