What is this..?

[armchairarborist]

found it lastnight in scotland stuck to a tree on my dads land, its about 6inch across and 10inch tall, soft enough to leave a fingerprint in, looks like its full of round lumps, if its identified as a bad thing then it will be incinerated, if its a goodie then it needs identifying and protecting, not likely to be a lump of putty im afraid as nobody goes close to this bit, please help.. Ed

[David Humphries]

Not 100% sure but it may be Enteridium lycoperdon.

 

Which is a saprophytic fungi,/slime mould usualy seen on dead standing trees.

 

I've noted quite a few recently, on Birch, Oak & Beech.

 

 

 

 

 

.

[armchairarborist]

i thought it looked fungi-like at first, but then wondered if it might be full of insects- spiders or moths or something, sounds like a job for stan (ley knife)

[redmoosefaction]

Saw it on an oak (standing ddd), it sort of looked shiny.. weird. Thought it was a fungi

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

its lack of uniformity rules out lycoperdon/

 

looks very cocoon like to me, bet its bursting with beasties!

 

it aslo appears to bulge lower in its profile, doubt fungi would give the impression of downward loading as this does, bulging sack of creepies! open it up, show us the plauge of beasties!

Edited April 21, 2010 by Tony Croft aka hamadryad

[Mesterh]

I would say a good bit of stick poking is in order

 

Make sure its a long one though!

[armchairarborist]

its way up north just over the border on my dads farm, i cant get back up anytime soon but he's checking it daily, dont think he has a camera though, but it'd be good to find out as i play in the woods up there and dont fancy sharing them with nasty beasts..

[peckerwoo]

,,,Spotted something identically looking in my local small wood today on a diseased old beech?, about the size of a bar of soap, felt quite soft,,,

will try take pic tomoz and post here!

very intriguing I must admit but I`d guess some form of Fungi at 1st view?

Best judgement "Monkey-D"

[armchairarborist]

where abouts in s-yorks are you? im working between bsly and wakey tomorrow, if its close i might be tempted to take a peek, i am now thinking it must be fungi as its only been found so far on deadwood..

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

im sticking with the bugs, especialy with all them wood pecker holes all over the stump!