Q. One of our vine maples has some sort of jelly-like, slimy stuff (like small jelly fish found dead on a beach!) on the ground around the roots. What might that be? We too are having different success with vine maples on different parts of our land, and are grateful for your suggestion in a past column to talk with an arborist. Thanks. Audra Adelberger – Seattle, WA
A. Well if you had said the slimy stuff looked like vomit then I would have been fairly certain that what you are seeing is slime mold. Many a dog has been blamed for what was really slime mold. But the small jellyfish dead on a beach is a little harder to determine but it is still quite possible. Slime molds are an interesting group of organisms. Their actual relationship to fungi or protozoa has been debated over the years in the scientific community. Many of its structures look like fungi, but it also has a motile (visibly mobile) stage, which makes it seem like an animal. I couldn’t do the slime mold justice in the space I have so if you have an interest you can do a search on the Internet to get more info and pictures. They feed on dead organic as well as protozoa, fungi and bacteria. The location under your vine maples is not likely a cause for concern; it may just be using the mulch below the tree as food. You may consider getting some expert help at the Puget Sound Mycological Society’s 42nd Annual Wild Mushroom Show this weekend at the Sand Point Magnusson Park in Seattle (Saturday from noon to 7pm and Sunday 10am to 5pm). There will be experts on hand to identify mushrooms for the general public. Of course you should bring a sample with you. For more information or directions see their website http://www.psms.org/exhibit.html