What is this gunk???

galwaybeginner · Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2009 1:28 pm Post subject: What is this gunk???

Hi, I've found some horrible slimy stuff in a few spots around my driveway. I'm thinking it is from some sort of animal as it doesn't look like a plant and doesn't appear to be rooted.

Any ideas what it is? It's quite wet out so may look different if the rain ever stops!

Thanks

Belfast · Ash Tree Joined: 23 Apr 2009 Posts: 243 Location: CSA

looks like some kind of fungus

galwaybeginner · Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2009 2:49 pm Post subject:

Could be, but it looks more like a (going well into imaginitive teritory here) the shedded skin of a snake with a sluglike skin.

galwaybeginner · Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2009 2:51 pm Post subject:

I'm more worried that its droppings from some sort of king rat or other rodent. Worried about my cat (very timid) getting attacked.
But if it's just a fungus I guess a bit of salt should take care of it?

medieval knievel · Sessile Oak Tree Joined: 03 Sep 2007 Posts: 318

does it smell?

galwaybeginner · Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2009 3:18 pm Post subject:

doesn't seem to. I don't want t touch it to be honest, but no strong smell.

James Kilkelly, was GPI. · Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2009 3:23 pm Post subject:

Looks like slime mould, a fungal type growth springing up from decomposing wood chips, leaves etc.
A hand trowel and dustpan followed by a washing with a “Jeyes fluid” solution should go a long way to removing it.

galwaybeginner · Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2009 3:30 pm Post subject:

Thanks James. Yet again you come to my rescue! Smile

forest flame · Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2009 7:17 pm Post subject:

looks like the curry i had yesterday

Foxylock · Ash Tree Joined: 08 Aug 2009 Posts: 237 Location: cork

looks like a typical night out in my place Embarassed

michelle M · Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2009 9:55 pm Post subject:

I've seen loads of that around this year- no idea what it is though.

Sive · Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2009 1:36 pm Post subject:

I think this same stuff was the subject of a query by a reader, writing in to Michael Viney's column in the Saturday edition of the Irish Times a few weeks ago. It is a natural growth of some sort, but I just can't remember what it was called.

Sive · Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2009 1:50 pm Post subject:

After I wrote the last post, I decided to hunt in the Irish Times archive online and I found the answer to the question "What is this gunk?"

" A greeny-brown stuff that looks like seaweed appears in patches all over our yard after those very heavy downpours of rain. It can appear on gravel, on sand and on clay. It looks like it’s fallen from the sky. Anne Ryan, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford.

Professor Michael Guiry, algae expert from NUIG, tells me that it is a blue-green alga called Nostoc commune. It is normally not noticeable on the ground but after rain swells up into a jelly-like mass which people thought had fallen from the sky, hence the name star jelly. "

It sounds as if this may be your answer, galwaybeginner !

galwaybeginner · Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2009 6:11 pm Post subject:

Wow! Thanks a million Sive, sounds spot on!

galwaybeginner · Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2009 10:12 am Post subject:

It seems to have expanded. Wish the rain would stop so I could do something about it. Although may be cheaper than tarmac for the drive...and scare kids at halloween!