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What are they

huwjacksonhuwjackson Posts: 5
in Problem solving
My nephew who is setting up home and is getting to grips with gardening as a complete beginner, sent me the attached photos of something which I have never seen in a garden before after 6 decades. 

The seem to be attracted to the gravelly boundary with the grass, scattered about the surface.  They live in a village called Llantwit Fardre in Rhondda Cynon Taf County so the soil is based on a boulder clay.  They are various sizes and a deep purplish/black/brown colour.   When squeezed they pop  and a whitish fluid comes out.  They do not seem to be plant based?????  My nephews main concern is whether they are danger to his dog.  It would be good to now what they are. Can you help?


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Posts

  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    Are they actually in the soil or just scattered on the surface?  Could you cut one in half to show us?
  • UffUff Posts: 3,199
    Could they be a type of fungi @huwjackson? There is a fungi commonly called King Alfred's cakes that look similar but they are solid. The only other thing I can think of is that they are eggs of some sort.
    SW SCOTLAND but born in Derbyshire
  • Paul B3Paul B3 Posts: 3,154

    Hope this helps !

  • huwjacksonhuwjackson Posts: 5
    Thank you for comments so far. Really interesting. Have just got this extra pic from my nephew. It shows one he has squashed. 
  • huwjacksonhuwjackson Posts: 5
    To answer one of the questions, just scattered on surface. No roots. 
  • robairdmacraignilrobairdmacraignil Posts: 782
    Paul B3 said:

    Hope this helps !


    Looks like Nostoc to me as well.
    https://www.youtube.com/user/sustainableveg/videos
  • huwjacksonhuwjackson Posts: 5
    Thank you all for your help. Much appreciated. 
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    edited November 2022
    Nostoc. This is not a fungus, not an alga, but a cyanobacterium.  It likes limestone chippings.

    After much research, I now control mine with a spray of 10% thin bleach (NaOCl).  5% might work.

     If you are not concerned about brown discolouration of the chippings then Sulphate of Iron (FeSO4) works well at 6 tablespoons in a 1.5 gallon watering can.  The lawn will green up where it gets some splash, but otherwise good.

    Both remedies kill the bacterium, but the gel properties remain until the dead thing dries out and rots away.

    I have no information on danger to animals.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • huwjacksonhuwjackson Posts: 5
    Thank you for the advice. Appreciated
  • PalustrisPalustris Posts: 4,307
    The Wikipedia entry on Nostoc makes fascinating reading. Some kinds are edible.
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