I apologize, but can someone explain what this is growing in my yard???

[tracydr]

Hi,

I am sure this is in the wrong category, but I cannot find any information online. We have lived in our house for about 4 years, and then all of a sudden in the last month or so, these things have been popping up everywhere, seemingly overnight. They are rather big, probably like 4 inches x 4 inches or bigger. They are hard, and are attached to the ground. When I kicked them off, the inside is solid and looks dry like divinity candy or something. They are also hard to get off the ground.

I am beginning to get worried if it is some sort of mold infestation or something, as my 3 year old son has been having allergy issues lately, so it is making me wonder.

I am going to try and post a photo, hoping that it works!

[Richard Martin]

It may be mold. Show a side pic please.

Mold and mushrooms usually come from decaying organic material. An old tree root system perhaps?

[David C.]

Rotting debris in the area --- an old tree stump root from years gone by

If you run over one with the mower it creates enough dust --- looks like an Army smoke screen!!!

[adrianrog]

Looks like a mushroom to me. I'm guessing you just had rain? That's usually when you get them. I wouldn't worry too much, maybe pick, bag and discard them if you're worried. As a kid, we would throw them up in the air and hit them with bats.

[puppypaws]

Hi,

I am sure this is in the wrong category, but I cannot find any information online. We have lived in our house for about 4 years, and then all of a sudden in the last month or so, these things have been popping up everywhere, seemingly overnight. They are rather big, probably like 4 inches x 4 inches or bigger. They are hard, and are attached to the ground. When I kicked them off, the inside is solid and looks dry like divinity candy or something. They are also hard to get off the ground.

I am beginning to get worried if it is some sort of mold infestation or something, as my 3 year old son has been having allergy issues lately, so it is making me wonder.

I am going to try and post a photo, hoping that it works!

I think your lawn has cancer, that looks just like a tumor I saw taken off a friend of mines liver.

[tracydr]

Hi guys,

That's the deal, we live in California which means we haven't had rain for months, and although we use sprinklers these are even growing in area's that the sprinklers do not reach. Also, there is no debris in the area and no old tree's. They are literally growing everywhere....under shrubs, out int he open. Our ground is very dry right now because we haven't started getting our fall rain showers yet.

They are solid, even hard in the middle....and they don't smell like mushrooms or anything. My husband says he knows what puffballs are, and this isn't one of them?

[BostonBull]

Get us a few more pics, maybe zoomed out with a quarter next to them or something like that to gauge the size of these.

[Capemay Eagle]

I don't know what that is but I can understand what you are going through. I get all kinds of fungus and mold from time to time I also get mysterious piles of dirt that just appear like someone just dumped a shovelful of dirt on the lawn. But I really got freaked out when this appeared one morning. I took the picture next to the shovel to show how big it was, but also it took the shovel to dig it out of the grass.???

[puppypaws]

I don't know what that is but I can understand what you are going through. I get all kinds of fungus and mold from time to time I also get mysterious piles of dirt that just appear like someone just dumped a shovelful of dirt on the lawn. But I really got freaked out when this appeared one morning. I took the picture next to the shovel to show how big it was, but also it took the shovel to dig it out of the grass.???

Here, I'm going to let you and her do the investigating; it is a wonderful site...

http://www.mykoweb.com/

[tracydr]

Photos of another one, pulled out of ground and also cut i half....

This one looks like it has all kinds of sesame seed looking things inside, which is hard to see in the photos...

This one wasn't "hard" in the middle but still wasn't spongy like a mushroom, it was very hard to cut, very firm.

[NNL&LS]

capemay, that looks like hen of the woods. look it up.. they are edible, and quite good! As for the main topic, call an extension agent.

[puppypaws]

capemay, that looks like hen of the woods. look it up.. they are edible, and quite good! As for the main topic, call an extension agent.

No need to call, you are 100% correct; the Hen of the Woods is a delicious editable mushroom....

http://theforagerpress.com/fieldguide/octfd.htm

[puppypaws]

Photos of another one, pulled out of ground and also cut i half....

This one looks like it has all kinds of sesame seed looking things inside, which is hard to see in the photos...

This one wasn't "hard" in the middle but still wasn't spongy like a mushroom, it was very hard to cut, very firm.


"Scleroderma polyrhizum"

http://www.mushroomexpert.com/scleroderma_polyrhizum.html


http://www.mushroomexpert.com/images/kuo2/scleroderma_polyrhizum_02_thumb.jpg

[tracydr]

thank you,

That looks the closest like the ones we have, although it's just a tad different. I have lived all over from the midwest and no in California and I have never seen them before!

[puppypaws]

thank you,

That looks the closest like the ones we have, although it's just a tad different. I have lived all over from the midwest and no in California and I have never seen them before!

I feel assured that is more than likely what you are seeing; or a subspecies, pictures can be a little deceiving at different growth stages. When they get to full development and dry down it will look like black smut fogging out if you hit one with a mower. That is when they release their spores for reproduction.

[I26]

So how do you control such a thing?

[THEGOLDPRO]

I don't know what that is but I can understand what you are going through. I get all kinds of fungus and mold from time to time I also get mysterious piles of dirt that just appear like someone just dumped a shovelful of dirt on the lawn. But I really got freaked out when this appeared one morning. I took the picture next to the shovel to show how big it was, but also it took the shovel to dig it out of the grass.???
well as a homeowner we wouldent expect you to know much cape may, but those piles or dirt you see are from moles, and little rodent's digging under your lawn.and the pic is as stated Hen of the Woods, they are delicious, from time to time after a good rain we will walk around the woods, and search for mushroom patches, and these as well.

[puppypaws]

So how do you control such a thing?

Soak the area with ordinary white vinegar. Vinegar kills 80% of all mold and fungus types.

[haul03486]

They are mushrooms i just dont know what kind we get them here in tn as well try ubcbotanicalgarden.org. They can id anything that grows. And the previous mentioned is true distilled white viegar will dry them up.

[Capemay Eagle]

well as a homeowner we wouldent expect you to know much cape may, but those piles or dirt you see are from moles, and little rodent's digging under your lawn.and the pic is as stated Hen of the Woods, they are delicious, from time to time after a good rain we will walk around the woods, and search for mushroom patches, and these as well.
Well wise guy, they are not moles, they are pocket gophers. Why don't you just end it already.

[Capemay Eagle]

No need to call, you are 100% correct; the Hen of the Woods is a delicious editable mushroom....

http://theforagerpress.com/fieldguide/octfd.htmIt makes sense, I have several oaks in my yard, but the odd thing is that this grew around the beginning of July, and it grew quick. The article says they usually grows in the fall months, usually October.

I really love mushrooms, but I don't think that I would attempt to eat this thing. It was very slimy.

[THEGOLDPRO]

Well wise guy, they are not moles, they are pocket gophers. Why don't you just end it already.to quote myself
i said from moles, and little rodent'swhich cover pocket gophers as well, alot of little rodent's dig like this.

[puppypaws]

It makes sense, I have several oaks in my yard, but the odd thing is that this grew around the beginning of July, and it grew quick. The article says they usually grows in the fall months, usually October.

I really love mushrooms, but I don't think that I would attempt to eat this thing. It was very slimy.

I have never eaten one either but I would if someone prepared it properly, as you can see according to the literature it has several good properties.

1) Fabulous flavor

2) A firm texture that lends itself to almost any culinary application

3) Its usually bug free - at least inside the flesh - you have to pick over it but unless it's over the hill you won't find much in the way of bug larvae

4) Easy to store. Just chop this one up into what ever size pieces you like to cook with and store them in freezer bags in the freezer without any par-boiling, etc.

5) It's good for you! Studies are beginning to reveal immune-enhancing and cancer-preventing properties

[cgaengineer]

Jokingly I was going to say it looked like it would be good on a salad but someone pretty much beat me too it! I wouldnt eat that nasty thing no matter how hungry I was!