Identification: White fungus

I have recently noticed a white substance that looks like a fungus growing on bare ground. There is no grass or other plants growing there. Has anyone had this problem or know what it could be? We are currently trying to grow grass close to but not actually in this particular spot and would like to take care of it before the grass starts coming up.

 

could be a fungal mycelium. the stage they go through other than the fruiting body (aka mushroom)

 

If you wanted to kill the mycelium (if in fact that is what you have) that probably poses no danger to the health or integrity of your grass, you could go to a lawn and garden center and buy some toxic fungicide which you could spray on the area.

 

Also possibly a slime mold based on the brief description. See this thread for a selected quote from noted mycologist Tom Volk re: slime molds in the lawn.

 

Hi Farmer John,

You could look here to see if that is what you have.
http://waynesword.palomar.edu/slime1.htm
http://www.ppdl.org/dd/id/slime_molds-mulch.html

Newt