I went for a walk in the woods and found multiple fallen branches with this fairly long growth on them.

I assume that it is a fungus of some sort but does anyone have more info on what kind it is?

I found so many that I eventually stopped taking pictures of it. But I haven’t seen this before so I was surprised, as I spend quite a lot of time in the woods.

  • cosmicrookieOP
    392·
    10 months ago

    That is really surprising because it didn’t feel that cold. It’s actually +1C at the moment so did not even consider ice!

    • Madison420
      330·
      10 months ago

      It says in the article it can persist for days.

      • cosmicrookieOP
        322·
        10 months ago10 months ago

        Yes! I am not doubting it at all. I am just surprised at it being ice (even after reading the Wikipedia link)

        • shadmereEnglish
          330·
          10 months ago

          Though apparently only forms because of a fungus!

          • mihntEnglish
            550·
            10 months ago10 months ago

            If you can’t explain it or it’s weird as hell, it’s always a fungus.

            • faintwhenfreeEnglish
              80·
              10 months ago

              !The fungus shapes the ice into fine hairs through an uncertain mechanism and likely stabilizes it by providing a recrystallization inhibitor similar to antifreeze proteins!<

              I always find these interesting that we still haven’t figure out fungi fully.

    • WestwardWind
      50·
      10 months ago

      You should submit some of your photos to Wikipedia. They’re very clear compared to some of the handful in the article

    • Valmond
      10·
      10 months ago

      Probably because the mass is very low.