Fungus

[amandabj]

I've discovered in my grass what at first glance looks like sick but is actually hundreds of small white chocolate like balls crowded together, there are three patches like this on my lawn. The next day it changes to what looks like soggy white bread. Any idea what it could be? I have never seen anything like it before.

[Adam Cheeseman]

Sounds like a slime mould of some sort.

Cheers,

Adam

[RobSutton]

Something like this?



If you go to the Gallery and type mucilago into the search box you'll get a number of images of the thing at different stages.

[amandabj]

No it doesn't look slimy, I'll have to work out how to download a photo.
Thanks for the input.

[fairplay]

So are you saying it definitely starts off as small chocolate balls all lumped together and then the (very same) clump changes to a white wet bread consistency ?

Are you certain it is not the other way round ?

Neil.

[amandabj]

Yes exactly, day one the white chocolate balls, day two the soggy white bread. It's not soggy, it is quite dry to the touch, but spongy and that's the way it stays and slowly shrinks over the following week. I'm sure it's a sort of fungi but it's so weird. I tried to download photos but they were too big. I'll try again.

Thanks

[hamadryad]

mucilago crustacea

[amandabj]

Yep, that's the stuff Fulgio septica, aka Dog Vomit! I hadn't realised there were so many varieties but the exact picture I found showing it in San Diego wildlife park, only our dog vomit isn't anywhere the size of that. Guess if I'd put in slime mold as someone has suggested I would have discovered it sooner. I had thought aliens had landed and left their deposits in the garden. Mystery solved. Thanks

[fairplay]

I think you have lost everybody here. By saying "Yep, that's the stuff, Fuligo septica ... " you seem to be saying somebody suggested that, but nobody did because this is usually sulphur yellow and your mystery thing was white.

Then you say you didn't realise there were so many varieties, by that, do you mean types of slime mould or 'varieties' of Fuligo ?

There is a white species called Fuligo candida which is found on rotting wood, but I do not think this occurs in grass. Also, there is a white form of Fuligo septica called F.septica var.alba, but this too seems to be confined to wood.
I think Adam Cheeseman, and Rob Sutton were right in the first place - it was a slime mould and it was Mucilago crustacea except yours was at a slightly different stage.

You have painted a very confusing picture.

Neil.

EDIT : Or should that be 'led us up the garden path' ?