Fungus-Identification:
July 1, 2010 8:31 AM Subscribe
Any thoughts on what this is that I found growing on the carpet in my apartment?
My landlord will be coming over sometime tomorrow to check it out, but curiosity has already gotten the better of me.
Pic 1, Pic 2, Pic 3 w/ tin can for size comparison
Possibly relevant facts:
-Found on carpeted area of 1st floor apartment
-Apartment is the ground floor of a 3-story home
-Located in central New York
-Fungus was found about 10 feet outside of the bathroom, around the corner from the kitchen and not visibly in direct contact with any pipes
-This is the second time I found this fungus -- the first time was about 2-3 weeks ago, and at the time I didn't realize it was a fungus -- to be honest I thought one of my roommates had dropped cooked bow-tie pasta on the carpet and forgotten to pick it up. How naive, not to mention gross, right? Now I realize that bow-tie pasta does not grow on carpets. Fungus does, though!
Any insight is appreciated!
My landlord will be coming over sometime tomorrow to check it out, but curiosity has already gotten the better of me.
Pic 1, Pic 2, Pic 3 w/ tin can for size comparison
Possibly relevant facts:
-Found on carpeted area of 1st floor apartment
-Apartment is the ground floor of a 3-story home
-Located in central New York
-Fungus was found about 10 feet outside of the bathroom, around the corner from the kitchen and not visibly in direct contact with any pipes
-This is the second time I found this fungus -- the first time was about 2-3 weeks ago, and at the time I didn't realize it was a fungus -- to be honest I thought one of my roommates had dropped cooked bow-tie pasta on the carpet and forgotten to pick it up. How naive, not to mention gross, right? Now I realize that bow-tie pasta does not grow on carpets. Fungus does, though!
Any insight is appreciated!
Best answer: I have had that same fungus in my house, it's strange and ooky and when I first saw it I thought it was ... an ear or something fleshy. In fact the name bears that out: Judas Ear Fungus maybe? If it helps, it's probably not really growing on your carpet but coming from condensation around the wall there [meaning it won't spread into the room]
posted by jessamyn at 8:48 AM on July 1, 2010
posted by jessamyn at 8:48 AM on July 1, 2010
Best answer: It's a domestic cup fungus (Peziza domiciliana). I've found one in my bathroom before, they are common indoors. Not edible, but it won't hurt you to touch it.
posted by janerica at 9:01 AM on July 1, 2010
posted by janerica at 9:01 AM on July 1, 2010
Best answer: http://www.mushroomexpert.com/peziza_domiciliana.html
posted by RedEmma at 9:10 AM on July 1, 2010
posted by RedEmma at 9:10 AM on July 1, 2010
Actually:
This brownish cup fungus surprises people by appearing in their houses, often through cracks in concrete or masonry. It is also found in sandstone and in crumbling building remains, as well as in carpets, plaster, shower stalls, and so on. Peziza domiciliana is not the only species of Peziza that could conceivably grow in such settings, but it is the species that is usually found indoors or in concrete. Identification to a scientific certainty, therefore, requires microscopic analysis.
posted by RedEmma at 9:11 AM on July 1, 2010
This brownish cup fungus surprises people by appearing in their houses, often through cracks in concrete or masonry. It is also found in sandstone and in crumbling building remains, as well as in carpets, plaster, shower stalls, and so on. Peziza domiciliana is not the only species of Peziza that could conceivably grow in such settings, but it is the species that is usually found indoors or in concrete. Identification to a scientific certainty, therefore, requires microscopic analysis.
posted by RedEmma at 9:11 AM on July 1, 2010
Any insight is appreciated!
The insight is that there's an extreme amount of moisture in your walls, possibly indicating a leak, rotten drywall and/or rotten beams.
These are Bad Things, man. Bad. Things.
If this were your house, I would recommend a thorough inspection, by poking holes in drywall and giving things a good look-see.
Since it's an apartment, I would consider moving.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 9:26 AM on July 1, 2010
The insight is that there's an extreme amount of moisture in your walls, possibly indicating a leak, rotten drywall and/or rotten beams.
These are Bad Things, man. Bad. Things.
If this were your house, I would recommend a thorough inspection, by poking holes in drywall and giving things a good look-see.
Since it's an apartment, I would consider moving.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 9:26 AM on July 1, 2010
Response by poster: Since it's an apartment, I would consider moving.
Luckily I AM moving (in August), although only to the house next door, which is owned by the same landlord. So I expect a somewhat similar level of upkeep/maintenance (or lack there of).
Thanks for all of the answers. Jessamyn description of the texture as like "an ear or something fleshy" is disturbingly accurate, although the pictures and description of peziza domiciliana look spot on.
posted by greatleap at 10:37 AM on July 1, 2010
Luckily I AM moving (in August), although only to the house next door, which is owned by the same landlord. So I expect a somewhat similar level of upkeep/maintenance (or lack there of).
Thanks for all of the answers. Jessamyn description of the texture as like "an ear or something fleshy" is disturbingly accurate, although the pictures and description of peziza domiciliana look spot on.
posted by greatleap at 10:37 AM on July 1, 2010
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posted by allelopath at 8:33 AM on July 1, 2010