Thanks to the 90 F temperatures that continue to engulf much of the Midwest and Eastern U.S., I find myself needing to give the garden an extra drink of water most days. While watering this am, these two lovely (?) additions popped up overnight. Here’s the first one:
Initially, I thought this was the remnants of a dreamsicle the grandkids had the night before. But then I realized nothing short of a container of liquid nitrogen could survive this relentless heat. Thinking it had to be some sort of fungus (and probably not an alien) I turned to one of my biology books to see if I could identify it. Here’s what it is:
1. Dog Vomit Fungus. (Fuligo septica) – Appropriately named, don’t you think?
Quick Facts about Dog Vomit Fungus:
What is it? It is a slime mold and a member of the protist kingdom.
It is not harmful: Although it looks a bit gross, it’s more a cosmetic annoyance than a harmful garden-crasher. It’s actually a good decomposer, it supports nutrient recycling, and feeds on dead organic matter like mulch, leaf litter, and bark. It does not harm other plants and it is safe for people and pets, though its spores may cause allergies in some people.
It thrives in warm, moist, shady places: It frequently pops up after heavy rains or in hot humid conditions – like those we are experiencing in Northern Kentucky. It starts out as a yellow, slimy blob then dries, darkens, and fades within a few days to a week.
How to manage or remove it:
Scoop or rake it up while it is still slimy, then dispose of it in the trash. Don’t add it to your compost or spray it away with water as this will spread the fungus’ spores.
Now here is the second lovely addition I found in the garden this am:
2. Devil’s Dipstick (Mutinus elegans). This evil-looking, phallic-shaped mushroom is actually quite innocent and a member of the stinkhorn fungus family. (My mind is literally racing right now with a zillion off-colored comments).
Quick Facts about Devil’s Dipstick:
Appearance and habitat: Slender, pink-to-orange, finger-like tube with a slimy, brownish/black tip. It grows to around 4 to 8 inches tall and it supposedly smells absolutely awful (like rotting meat). The terrible smell is what attracts flies and beetles for spore distribution. However, I did not notice any foul odor this morning. Interestingly, it grows from an underground “witch’s egg” (a gelatinous sac) and shoots up rapidly, often overnight.
Is it Dangerous? No. It is harmless to gardens, humans, pets, and plants, but it is non-edible due to its smell and texture. Like the Dog Vomit Fungus, it helps decompose organic matter.
What to do if you find one: You don’t have to do anything—it will collapse and disappear in a day or two. For aesthetics, you can scoop it up and toss it into the trash. When possible, rake up “witch’s eggs” before they emerge to prevent new growth.
And who said gardening was boring?
What unexpected plants have popped up in your garden?
Stay cool and have a wonderful week.
Pam
