Small cluster of ball shaped "things". On a pine tree by the side of a trail in Rmd Nature Park. Don't know if thse are fungi ? Please ID.
Hi David - What is the approximate diameter of one of these, and are they very soft/squishy to the touch?
They are about 1 cm across. Haven't touch them as I think it would be not easy to pry them loose. If I go tomorrow again, I will pry one loose.
I went and re-located the small cluster on the pine bark. Correction : the size of the biggest is just 7-8mm, most of the rest just 5mm. The bigger ones are not hard, but feel like leathery, yielding only a bit to pressure. I pried loose one and dirty yellowish fluid oozed out. I touched the smaller ones, ohhhh, puff the magic dragon, I could clearly see powdery puff. I tried without success to catch the moment of puffing. So I used a metal pointer (the antenna from an old radio) to poke it and get the powder on the tip. I think these are puffballs, but don't know which !
Thank you for posting additional photos with measurement and texture details. This appears to be Lycogala epidendrum, the Wolf's Milk Slime Mold, but I think Magic Dragon slime mold would be an apt name also! Colouring more dramatic/pink when fresh growth.
