What is this growth on fallen tree branches?
What is this growth on fallen tree branches?
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.
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hair_ice
Hair ice, also known as ice wool or frost beard, is a type of ice that forms on dead wood and takes the shape of fine, silky hair
That is really surprising because it didn't feel that cold. It's actually +1C at the moment so did not even consider ice!
It says in the article it can persist for days.
Yes! I am not doubting it at all. I am just surprised at it being ice (even after reading the Wikipedia link)
Though apparently only forms because of a fungus!
If you can't explain it or it's weird as hell, it's always a fungus.
!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.
Wer haven't figured out anything fully
You should submit some of your photos to Wikipedia. They're very clear compared to some of the handful in the article