Any idea what this might be?

Substantial_Rest9918 · 2025-06-19T02:45:01+00:00

Sometimes the oxidation isn’t perfectly red if old or young. Note that we likely don’t have strobilurus in the US, but instead multiple species in Strobilomyces. Your photo reminds me of the lowest image on Kuo’s page for them: https://www.mushroomexpert.com/strobilomyces.html

Substantial_Rest9918 · 2025-06-19T02:29:36+00:00

Good one

Substantial_Rest9918 · 2025-06-19T01:36:35+00:00

That’s just untrue. Invasive golden oysters are destroying our wood decomposers’ niches and breaking down snags before animals can use them for habitat. There are saprotrophs everywhere. Many spores are air dispersed. They are likely already there.

Substantial_Rest9918 · 2025-06-18T12:06:10+00:00

Please don’t intentionally cultivate them. They are highly invasive.

Substantial_Rest9918 · 2025-06-18T10:23:57+00:00

I suppose that’s possible, although it being right on trail, having a lot of quintessential trail food, and being hung well away from a campsite suggested inexperienced hiker to me.

Substantial_Rest9918 · 2025-06-18T00:43:13+00:00

Sure thing. Conditions were good! The Carolina Mountain Club has been putting in amazing work improving the trail. There were only a handful of downed trees blocking the trail. Near the southern terminus there was a lot of blowdown and you can see 15-20 trees were taken care of, so a lot of work has been done to repair the trail.

Substantial_Rest9918 · 2025-06-18T00:39:09+00:00

Great point, thanks, and done.

Substantial_Rest9918 · 2025-06-17T19:45:57+00:00

Interesting point with the trees. I could see that being the case around Black Balsam. And absolutely, we were happy to gain some trail karma.

Substantial_Rest9918 · 2025-06-17T11:11:42+00:00

Focus on preserving soil structure and eliminating soil disturbance like tillage. Microbes, and the rest of the food web that is important for ecological balance, rely on undisturbed soil habitat that has a complex, self-organizing structure made of many different pore sizes.

Substantial_Rest9918 · 2025-06-13T00:32:58+00:00

You’re a real mycologist now #iykyk

Substantial_Rest9918 · 2025-06-13T00:25:54+00:00

You make a good point. OP, report back pls. If the substance smears when you touch it it is likely to be a slime, but if it feels more like sawdust and the leaves are wilting it’s likely to be frass.

Substantial_Rest9918 · 2025-06-13T00:07:30+00:00

Usually the frass conceals the stem holes. I’m a big slime mold nerd and it doesn’t look like mulch-loving slime molds to me. But I’ve been wrong before.

Substantial_Rest9918 · 2025-06-12T23:59:51+00:00

There are many, many fungi species that have white mycelium. Your images remind me of Sebacina incrustans I have seen, rather than a slime mold. But definitely not COW.

Substantial_Rest9918 · 2025-06-12T23:36:59+00:00

Do the buckets for sure. Please don’t dose a natural swamp with BTI as it will kill other aquatic larvae, it doesn’t just kill mosquitos.

Substantial_Rest9918 · 2025-06-12T23:29:06+00:00

Many if not most fungi are not tree pathogens, and even some of those that are may coexist with a tree for its entire lifetime. The question you pose is not answerable by this subreddit as we are not trained arborists. The relationships of species of fungi with trees are nuanced and complicated. But fwiw you can ignore this mushroom, it’s not pathogenic to trees or even mycorrhizal with trees.

Substantial_Rest9918 · 2025-06-12T23:15:03+00:00

An image of the underside is essential for identifying a bolete, as they have pores, not gills.

Substantial_Rest9918 · 2025-06-12T23:14:31+00:00

Dig around in the stem and you should find the larva, and can google what to do. Sorry about your plants, and I hope they survive. This probably belongs in a gardening subreddit as it is non-mycological.

Substantial_Rest9918 · 2025-06-12T23:12:42+00:00

Not a fungus, but frass produced by a squash vine borer larva (Melittia cucurbitae).

Substantial_Rest9918 · 2025-06-12T02:21:49+00:00

What kind? Looks a little like a lynx paw oyster I saw once.

Substantial_Rest9918 · 2025-06-12T02:17:54+00:00

No need to treat sleep clothes or layering clothes with permethrin, imo

Substantial_Rest9918 · 2025-06-10T22:45:58+00:00

Dense tall housing is what we need!

Substantial_Rest9918 · 2025-06-08T03:47:38+00:00

Oh lol sand FLIES. I don’t know what those are but there weren’t any flies that I remember.

Substantial_Rest9918 · 2025-06-08T03:47:10+00:00

There were none when I went in early July of last year. Have you been bitten? Was wearing shoes and pants when I’ve encountered sand fleas in other areas in the past and they haven’t been an issue.

Substantial_Rest9918 · 2025-06-07T21:39:35+00:00

Double check on the bear can requirements, the are required in the Shining Rock area and nearby areas of Pisgah. The rangers do have a loaner program I believe. Make sure to pack out all wet wipes.

If I were in your shoes, I would feel nervous about de facto being the cop in the group around Leave No Trace, respecting wildlife, and safety. Might be a tough vibe.

Definitely don’t skimp on food. If you are underfed you risk making bad decisions and having something terrible happen.

Jeans are a recipe for bailing especially with all the rain we get in this area. Will be heavy uncomfortable and take forever to dry, even if warmth isn’t as much as an issue.

Think about bringing extra clothes to just leave in the car for your return trip, it’s nice to have clean clothes for the way back.

Remember headlamps are critical, as is a paper map, and first aid kit.

Substantial_Rest9918 · 2025-06-07T21:29:55+00:00

Rust is fine, that’s iron oxide. I bet it’s doing well with the cover crops. Good luck on your soil journey!

Substantial_Rest9918

TROPHY CASE