What fungus is that? It looks like dog’s ...

PAPARAZZI does not have a green thumb. So when this photo of a weird yellow stuff growing in a Dubbo Photo News reader’s garden arrived at out office, we were very quickly scratching our heads.

“I did a bit of online research and I think this is something called... wait for it... dog’s vomit fungi,” our reader claimed. So Paparazzi checked, and sure enough there is such a thing as dog’s vomit fungi... gross!

Paparazzi needed an expert so we sent the photo over to Chris Bray, the Garden Dept boss at Brennan’s Mitre 10, for his analysis.

“Interesting that you have sent this in,” Chris commented. “With all of the recent rain, I have had some customers saying that they are finding certain fungus issues with their garden soils.”

Chris couldn’t confirm the exact identity of this fungi from just a photo, but he did “suspect that the fungal spores had developed from the mulch being wet, and would have multiplied to the current state”.

“Other customers have stated that they are seeing many forms of fungal activity including mushrooms.

“Fungal spores are carried by various methods including wind, and given the recent rainfall, usually develop with wet conditions.”

So what is a gardener to do when they discover an ugly-looking fungus was an equally ugly name growing in their garden?

Thankfully, Chris had a suggestion: “With seasonal conditions causing this issue, there are fungicides that are available to limit the presence of fungus, although upon the soil drying out and the temperature increasing, you should see a decline in its activity.”

This second photo was taken late Monday afternoon. A day baking in the sun had caused it to shrink (the box of matches gives an idea of the size), and brown off in colour to more closely resemble its namesake.

This yellow fungus was photographed on Monday morning by a Dubbo reader on their straw-covered garden bed. It had grown to this size – about 10cm across – in little more than a day.