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Slime Flux

Fusicolla merismoides

Photo by Christine Y.
Published on Project Noah
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41.8788, -73.4733

Field Notes

Description:

Slime flux begins as a bacterial infection. As the bacteria grows (in the roots of the tree), methane gas is produced, which causes pressure within the tree. The pressure forces the bacterial flux through any wounds in the tree. The flux is then quickly consumed by numerous different species of fungi - mostly types of yeast. Some of these types of yeast are pathogenic to humans.
So, Fusicolla merismoides is actually a complex of species - a microbial consortium.

Habitat:

I spotted this orange and white goo dripping down the side of a cut/rotting tree on the side of a field. Also, about 15 feet away, I saw more growing on a tree stump in the grass (4th pic).

Notes:

This is the first spotting of this species on Project Noah.

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