Slime mold or just slimy mold?

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texasbb
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Slime mold or just slimy mold?

Post by texasbb » May 30th, 2022, 8:47 am

Or another fungus or something else entirely?
Image

This was in the Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness, eastern WA, in an area that burned last summer. It appeared to be literally dripping from the log to the ground, although it was a little rainy a little while before the pic:
Image

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bobcat
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Re: Slime mold or just slimy mold?

Post by bobcat » May 31st, 2022, 6:37 am

It looks like a yeast fungus. Don't mess with it - some are known to cause meningitis. Here's an article:

https://blog.mycology.cornell.edu/2010/ ... consortia/

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texasbb
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Re: Slime mold or just slimy mold?

Post by texasbb » May 31st, 2022, 7:14 am

bobcat wrote:
May 31st, 2022, 6:37 am
It looks like a yeast fungus. Don't mess with it - some are known to cause meningitis. Here's an article:

https://blog.mycology.cornell.edu/2010/ ... consortia/
Thanks for that pointer, @bobcat. The article implies that it happens mostly (only?) to stumps with roots still in the ground. This log was on the upslope side of the trail and I didn't notice whether the fallen tree still had some buried roots. Regardless, it is interesting.

And no, I didn't mess with it. :)

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bobcat
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Re: Slime mold or just slimy mold?

Post by bobcat » May 31st, 2022, 8:06 am

Yes, if it's a yeast fungus, it would be feeding on oozing sap. It's the right time of year (spring) and the right layer. The tree must still have some life in it as downed trees often do, one foot still in the ground perhaps.

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