For ID - White fungal growth in field

[Lily Snow]

This growth along with 3 or 4 other similar growths spaced at about 1m apart, was found in a grazing meadow in Gloucestershire on 19 Nov 2011. The largest was about 20cm in height, 10cm in width. It grew on the grass leaves off the ground. At about 10m distance were some old giant puffballs. We are interested to know more about them - anyone any ideas? Thanks.

[stickman]

Hi Lily

This is the Myxomycete Mucilago crustacea.

Cheers,
Nick

[Lily Snow]

Many thanks - had never seen anything like it before but will remember for a next time!

[Chris Yeates]

I remember on the British Mycological Society's Centenary Foray which I organised (crikey - a decade and a half ago - scary!)

the BBC's Look North programme came out and covered our foray in Crimsworth Dean near Hebden Bridge (a classic hunting ground for mycologists over the years); I have this on video somewhere . . .

this species was found close to the start of the foray and Bruce Ing (a world authority on myxo's - The Myxomycetes of Britain and Ireland: An Identification Handbook : Bruce Ing : 9780855462512) can be heard naming it and commenting "it looks rather like a dog's been sick" . . . . at which point the BBC's "blonde with a microphone" (sincere apologies to (a) women and (b) blonde women) can clearly be heard to ask "can you eat it"

I do hope this escapes the 'edibility' clause

cheers

Chris

[fairplay]

Chris,
Is this where the phrase 'dog's vomit' originates from ? (and I always thought it refers to Fuligo septica ?)

Neil.