MD came in and told me to get my camera and go down to the backyard, so I did - that always meant a great photo opportunity of one thing or another!! Wasn't disappointed either ......
In my excitement, I forgot to measure it but that's an ordinary garden slug next to it - probably just as amazed as we were I think! In the sun, its soft spongy texture was quickly deflating.
Here's a side on view. The little specky things were some type of insect crawling around on it.
Now this is where it gets even more weirder.
Inside it was a series of hollow little tubes in a lighter colour, but when viewed really close up it resembled a face. I tried every which-way to try and get a proper shot of the inside - if you click on the photo to enlarge, you may just see what I'm talking about! I promise this is not a joke, I haven't manipulated the image in any way other than to crop the photo. I do hope it shows up.
Obviously it's a fungi of some sort, and it just knocked us out at it's weirdness.
I've never seen anything like it. That face is of the 'screamer' to me! Scarey!! What's going on around your place Susan? Maa.
ReplyDeleteLol, the wonders of nature, but only if you're quick!
ReplyDelete~ Hi Maa, LOL, neither had we! Yes, that's what that 'face' reminds me of too, come to think of it. Freaky.. (hope you've caught your mouse today - will be popping over later to see if you've had any further progress) :D)
ReplyDelete~ Robyn, yes, nature astounds at every turn doesn't she. Yes, it had all withered within a half hour!
How fascinating! Perhaps you should email your pics to your nearest uni's botany department and see whether they can identify it for you :)
ReplyDeleteIt looks like a little happy froggie face to me! Did it have a smell? ewww
ReplyDeleteHello Susan
ReplyDeleteThanks for dropping in for you recent comment. And I see you on my list this afternoon so thank you for that as well. Hope you enjoy reading my posts the same as I enjoy yours
Now I didn't quite believe you (about the face that is) until I enlarged the picture and there it was deep down in the gloom. Quite freaky indeed - I'd be interested to hear what it is if you do manage to get it identified
Take care
Cathy
~ Desiree, yes it is fascinating and we were both quite intrigued! We're currently waiting for a reply from a Mycologist who we recently contacted. Will certainly do an update once we know more.
ReplyDelete~ Kat, ha ha, no smell (and I had my face so close trying to photograph the little tubes inside!). It looks like it would though doesn't it :D)
~ Cathy, welcome! I don't blame you in the least for not believing me initially! Amazing things can be done to manipulate photos, but this is the genuine article. I'm a Grandma - trust me!! Seriously though, as I commented to Desiree, we've contacted a Mycologist who is carrying out a project cataloguing fungi throughout Australia. So we're waiting with great anticipation for his reply ... even just to know what it's called will be interesting!
Susan wow you have cool fungus over there I would love to see it. I do see the face very weird. B
ReplyDelete~ Hi Buttons, it was such a chance discovery too... being so fragile it was literally collapsing and melting before our eyes! Yes, very weird :D)
ReplyDeleteEeeeww it looks sort of yukky. Maybe it is the face of an alien. Look out! It is all the wet weather I have weird ones popping up too.
ReplyDeleteAlso, an eeeeww!!! from me...I saw this early this morning, even zoomed in to the the eerie face-man! And it's pink? Is it still there? I cannot imagine what it could be-will be interesting. I hope you find out about it. Very Cool find, Susan and MD!
ReplyDelete~ Diane, lol, yukky is right... in an intriguing sort of way! Yes, it must be the wet weather :D)
ReplyDelete~ Susan, ha ha, this little old fungus is going to get a complex - all these eeeeewwwws ;-) It was the tubes inside that, I must admit, gave me a bit of a start when I saw the 'face'. No, Susan, there's no trace of it now. Actually, it'd already started collapsing by the time MD found it. Yes, we hope we find out something... I'll keep checking for a reply from the Mycologist :)
Fascinating. Here's hoping the mycologist can identify it.
ReplyDelete~ Vicki, it was indeed! The Mycologist, Dr Tom May, identified it and sent a lot of info through for us. Here's a link to the update on this subject: Update weird fungus identified :D)
ReplyDelete~ Blogger had deleted this comment during its recent problems. I've copied it from my email:
ReplyDelete~ Vicki Tyley "Fascinating. Here's hoping the mycologist can identify it."
What exotic organisms you have over there! The pink really got me and then the FACE! Very weird.
ReplyDelete> Mary, it was quite freaky at the time. Now we're looking for any more little weirdos :D)
ReplyDeletewow that's strange - i saw the face...love the color pink.
ReplyDelete> Sandy, that was the the clincher for me, when I peered in and saw that. Just the inner stem, as we now know, but when it formed the shape of two eyes and a mouth... well!! Great of you to pop over :D)
ReplyDelete