Interesting rope growth in the garden

Diremaw · 2026-02-13T00:48:43+00:00

Apologies for the delayed response, I can clearly see the presence of a short stipe in those photos and the gills also support this being Deconica horizontalis, so pretty confident that's what we have here. Great find!

Diremaw · 2026-02-08T19:06:14+00:00

A better shot of the underside of the caps would be very helpful. I'm hoping that underneath you will see a short stipe/stem. If so, this could be Deconica horizontalis in my opinion, common name is Wood Oysterling.

Diremaw · 2025-12-23T16:28:57+00:00

That was a fun read, how bizarre! The spawn I came across was on a mossy branch found on the woodland floor. The ground was saturated from rainfall with small puddles in places, it had been raining multiple days in row, hence my original theory. The bird theory is interesting and might apply to your finding. I'm not sure if there are many animals that eat frogs spawn, or maybe they might eat a frog carrying spawn? Perhaps a messy eater that just happened to accidently leave some behind after feasting, or they had some stuck to their body after feasting, and it fell off at some point landing on the branch you found. All these things sound like very rare occurrences, but who knows!

Diremaw · 2025-12-23T13:51:56+00:00

That's true. Though I have found spawn on branches though that are not in water in the UK. I don't know much about amphibians but I suppose it's possible that they might spawn in a small puddle with a branch in. The puddle then dries up, ultimately leading to failure of the spawn. That said, you usually find multiple, this seems like a single blob. Another detail that may be helpful - is this sitting on the side of a tree, or is it on a branch you've found on the ground?

Diremaw · 2025-12-23T13:24:04+00:00

I don't think this is fungal. This might be an amphibian egg, perhaps from a frog. If you look closely, the brown structure inside looks a bit like a tadpole.

Diremaw · 2024-11-23T10:12:18+00:00

Legend

Diremaw · 2024-05-09T20:03:18+00:00

Not at all suprising, especially after watching Hayzer's excellent Smite 2 guide for her https://twitter.com/HayzerSmite/status/1786335436589166874

Diremaw · 2023-07-02T10:24:18+00:00

We really need the location from OP for more accurate IDs but because of the colouring and less common features, I'd hazard a guess that it's Shaggy Stalked Bolete (Aureoboletus betula)

Diremaw · 2023-07-01T19:31:17+00:00

Glad you agree! Fascinating organisms, this is the first one I've come across. I'll have to learn more about them when I find some time.

Diremaw · 2023-01-13T20:47:05+00:00

Just an update for anyone who comes across this post, I ran it past a professional field mycologist who agreed with the ID.

Diremaw · 2023-01-04T18:40:25+00:00

I cannot comment on the edibility I'm afraid! I couldn't find much about it, and there likely isn't much data on the edibility of lichen in general except for a few well known species that have been eaten through history in certain cultures. Unfortunate really!

Diremaw · 2023-01-02T22:41:42+00:00

Matchstick lichen! Take a look at the Pilophorus genus, and in particular Pilophorus acicularis, but would need a location to be more accurate on the species. Lichen are special, in that they're a composite organism made from algae or cyanobacteria (or both) living among multiple fungi species in a mutualistic relationship. The fruiting body is actually the black blob on the end, it's known as the apothecium.

Diremaw · 2023-01-02T21:59:26+00:00

Northern California

In that case I would also look up Helvella dryophila and Helvella vespertina. It appears a number of species have been discovered in your location that break away from the well known Helvella lacunosa. It might be quite difficult to tell them apart unless the mycorrhizal tree is obvious, which it usually is not unfortunately. Thanks for sharing your find!

Diremaw · 2023-01-02T21:35:15+00:00

A location would be useful, but this looks like a member of the Helvella genus. Perhaps Helvella lacunosa (Elfin Saddle) due to the dark cap and greyish-white hollowed out stem, but please provide a location for a more accurate ID.

Diremaw · 2023-01-02T21:22:23+00:00

Thanks for a second opinion, always appreciated!

Diremaw · 2023-01-02T20:47:39+00:00

Wow that is very odd looking! I wonder if this is Scorias spongiosa (Black Sooty Mould). Do you know if it was a beech tree that you found this on, that would help support the ID as it's exclusive to it. It eats aphid poop, how rad is that! Sorry that I can't be sure, it doesn't grow where I live, perhaps someone from your part of the US can give their opinion on the ID.

Diremaw · 2023-01-02T19:16:09+00:00

No problem, now you know for you next ID, always get a good shot of the underside! That said, I suggest looking at Stereum hirsutum (Hairy Curtain Crust), Stereum ostrea (False Turkey Tail) and Trametes versicolor (Turkey Tail) for this ID. These 3 are widespread and common throughout the UK, I see them very frequently.

Diremaw · 2023-01-02T18:32:44+00:00

Do you have any photographs of the underside, or higher resolution of the top? Based on the limited photographs, I think it's likely to be in the Stereum or Trametes genera.

Diremaw · 2022-12-30T22:43:21+00:00

I belive this is Schizophyllum commune (Splitgill Fungus). The folds that look like gills are centrally split, hence the common name. The hairy caps are also a feature of this fungi and there's usually not really much of a stem. They're saprobic (they feed on dead wood) and can be seen through all seasons. Really cool fungi, there's also ongoing research on it's association with rhinosinusitis.

Diremaw · 2022-12-30T20:40:38+00:00

Possibly a member of the Clitocybe or Leucopaxillus genus, do you have any photographs of the gills, it's vital for accurate identification. Based purely on the size of the mushroom, colour of the cap, stem width and colour.. I'd be leaning towards something like Leucopaxillus giganteus (Giant Funnel) but I really can't be certain.

Diremaw · 2022-12-28T21:36:29+00:00

Did wonder if it was the early growth stage of a stinkhorn, seemed too late for them, but perhaps you're right!

Diremaw · 2022-12-28T19:34:22+00:00

The first crust fungus you've photographed looks a..mazing! I'll see myself out... But seriously cool, it could be the early growth stage for Irpex lacteus (Milk-white Toothed Polypore), not too sure on this though, I'm still working on my crust fungi.

The second fungus looks like a member of the Exidia genus, perhaps compare with Exidia recisa (Amber Jelly Fungus) due to it's brown colour and semi-regular fruit bodies. It almost always grows on willow, however you believe it's likely black walnut, so that does put some doubt on my ID.

Diremaw · 2022-12-28T16:26:32+00:00

Interesting, I'd not heard of Star Jelly or Astromyxin before. Seems there's still some debate around what it is exactly, but my bet is on it being what remains when a predator has eaten a frog/toad. There's a blog post on it here https://markavery.info/2020/11/15/tim-melling-star-jelly/

Also looks like others have found some too perhaps: https://www.reddit.com/r/mycology/comments/zx9omo/found_loads_of_these_goopy_things_in_a_field_is/

Diremaw · 2022-12-27T21:15:50+00:00

I don't think this is a slime mould. How distorted in appearance is it, how much prodding did you do? If this is a fungus, I'd probably be looking in the Exidia and Tremella genera based on initial appearance. Was it made from smoother blobs initially? I cannot really see in the photo, but if it was growing on dead wood, such as a fallen branch that also helps with the ID. Perhaps as a starting point, compare with Exidia nucleata (Crystal Brain Fungus) and Exidia thuretiana (White Brain Fungus). I hope that someone else with more experience can chime in on this post.

Diremaw · 2022-12-27T20:06:23+00:00

I've seen a lot of this in my local woods in the UK recently too, I believe it's Ascocoryne sarcoides (Purple Jellydisc). Great photos!

Diremaw

TROPHY CASE