What the heck is that thing?
I don't know, but it sure looks weird.
Back home at the computer, it's Tom Volk to the rescue again.
This is a specialized type of Sooty mold, Scorias spongiosa, that appears only on Beech trees.
Here's another page about it.
I first learned about sooty mold when I took the Master Gardener course. Certain plant-sucking insects excrete honeydew, a delightful name for what really amounts to sugary poop. The sooty mold lives off of it, and that's the black stuff you see on leaves (and other things).
I hadn't realized they came in such specialized varieties, though.
Fascinating . . . and ick. Has the weather been mild enough that it's fresh or is it a leftover from the '08 season? Does it keep growing and growing?
ReplyDeleteApparently it starts off yellowish and then turns black over time, so this one started last fall I guess. That Tom Volk link says it stays on through the next spring sometimes. This is the first time I've seen it, but now I'll be on the lookout for it!
ReplyDeleteThat's some really wild looking stuff! Nature is so amazing.
ReplyDeleteAnother Festival of the Trees must-have post!
ReplyDeleteIs Spongy black fungus how you looked it up? Searching always yield interesting data. gail
ReplyDeleteCrazy...something I would walk away from as quickly as possible. :)
ReplyDeleteWe see this stuff quite often, but we know it as Beech Aphid Poop-eater (seriously). Sometimes, if you're, lucky you might find the larva of a harvester butterfly (Feniseca tarquinius) near/by -- maybe, I'm not familiar with what species of butterflies you have in 'Bama. They are predatory on the aphids that produce the 'dew.
ReplyDeleteHow amazing is that stuff! WOW
ReplyDeletehuh. cool. it's rare to see black growing things. i'll have to keep an eye out.
ReplyDeleteLooks like a Soot Sprite from 'My Neighbor Totoro'.
ReplyDeleteThat's the coolest ugly thing I've ever seen! :) (Heh, my word verif is "snishlot", sounds like a noise that's made before that black stuff comes out! :)
ReplyDeleteAHA! I took a picture of the same thing a few weeks ago, had no idea what it was :) You have answered my question for me. thanks!!!
ReplyDeleteHummm... honeydew poo? Now that is too funny :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a weird mold! fun to look at.
ReplyDeleteI have just rediscovered you. I was afraid something had happened that you could no longer post. Thankfully, you are back again and I have caught up on your posts. You are always an interesting read.
ReplyDeleteMichelle, yeah I thought so too!
ReplyDeleteDave, ok I'll suggest it.
Gail, yup! It's kind of funny but it usually works well.
Lythrum, it's funny, I never noticed it before, but now that I'm aware, I find it a lot.
Swampy, I'm definitely going to be on the lookout for the aphids (and their predators) later this year.
Tom, yeah, cool, huh?
Erika, once I knew to look for it, I found it again easily. Of course we do have a lot of beeches here.
Via, that sounds about right! I keep hearing about "My Neighbor Totoro" and should probably check it out.
Lisa, heh. Like your new pic BTW. :)
Nickie, glad I could help! Maybe cool ugly things are becoming my specialty, ha.
KF, oh yeah! I remember being so surprised when I first learned about honeydew.
Mezamashii, I agree. I couldn't quite bring myself to touch it, though. :)
Andycat, thanks, I will try to be more regular in the future.