Scary Fungus

[Ladygardener]

I have leaves collected over the past 2 years and have them in a sectioned off part of my allotment. Today when I went to check on them as it must be time to bag them up, I saw this scary thing growing at the side. I've covered it and left it for now but I wonder. Is it posionous and what should I do with it. It really frightened me and I packed up and came home again.

[Tig]

Looking at it, I think it is a type of slime mould LG.

Found this advice on a US site hence the different spelling of 'mold'
Symptoms
Watery white, grey, black, or cream-to-yellow, slimy masses grow over the grass blades (or mulch or other surface) in round to irregular patches. The masses soon dry to form bluish grey, greyish white, black, white, or yellow powdery growths that are easily rubbed off. The grass blades beneath are healthy or somewhat yellow after being shaded.

Life Cycle
Slime molds are harmless organisms that suddenly appear during warm to hot weather following heavy rains or watering. These primitive organisms feed on decaying organic matter, fungi, and bacteria in the thatch and soil. Slime molds do little damage to living turfgrass but may cause some yellowing by shading the affected leaves. Fruiting of the slime molds is favored by warm, moist weather and thick thatch.

Management
Slime molds soon disappear when left alone. You can accelerate the process by raking, brushing, or mowing the area. After the onset of dry weather, you can hose down the area with water.

[Ladygardener]

I had a little google at slime mould and found lots of information on them Tig, thanks very much for checking it out for me. For some reason I find them frightening. Perhaps it stems from watching The Blob or something when I was younger lol. Being a slime mould would tie in with it living at the side of the leaf mould. I could'nt see any that looked like mine 'tho, mind you there are 900 or more different types.

[Tig]

I found a couple that looked very similar to yours LG - there is one that our American friends call 'Dog's vomit slime' - not surprised folk don't want to look at it

[Ladygardener]

Fuligo septica I had to check it out, such a lovely shade of yellow Tig.

[Tig]

[theinsidegardener]

ooooh yuck Ladygardener ! Glad I wasn't there, would have had two yucky puddles to clean up! Good to know it's nothing too serious though.

[Ladygardener]

Sept 13, 2013 19:26:34 GMT Tig said:

I'm trying not to Tig.


Yes I was thinking something along those lines myself theinsidegardener.