Sequoiadendron...any ideas?

[Maninahat]

Alright guys, came across this in the gardens i work in the other day. Just wondered if anyone knows what it is as im drawing a blank. Its growing at the base of sequoiadendron giganteum, about a foot or so from the floor. Ive only been working in the gardens for 7 months but the tree looks like its been in decline for a year or two or so...the fruiting body started of soft, in the third picture ive exposed the inside, which very closely resembled chocolate moose. After a few days to a week it became solid and fell off. Any ideas?

 

.

Edited June 1, 2010 by Monkey-D
add a warning

[David Humphries]

Look to be Enteridium lycoperdon to me, slime mould.

Not particularly significant.

 

 

 

 

 

.

Edited June 1, 2010 by Monkey-D

[Maninahat]

Cheers mate, thats a relief as there are 2 other really good specimens not to far from that one. Back to square one on whats killing the tree though...anyone have any ideas?

[David Humphries]

Enteridium, is a saprophytic slime mould hosting here on dead/dysfunctional part of the tree.

 

The primory agent may be Armillaria sp.

 

 

 

 

.