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What is this growth on fallen tree branches? (lemmy.world)

submitted 10 months ago by cosmicrookie@lemmy.world to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world

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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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[-] uservoid1@lemmy.world 123 points 10 months ago

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

[-] cosmicrookie@lemmy.world 39 points 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@lemmy.world 33 points 10 months ago

It says in the article it can persist for days.

[-] cosmicrookie@lemmy.world 31 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

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

[-] shadmere@lemmy.world 31 points 10 months ago

Though apparently only forms because of a fungus!

[-] mihnt@lemmy.world 54 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

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

[-] faintwhenfree@lemmus.org 8 points 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.

[-] meekah@lemmy.world 5 points 10 months ago

Wer haven't figured out anything fully

[-] WestwardWind@lemm.ee 5 points 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

this post was submitted on 27 Dec 2023

206 points (100.0% liked)

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