Hair Ice Fungus - 2 January 2025

Today I have to thank Google Lens on my Google Docs for helping me identify this intriguing fungus I found on some rotting wood today :

That’s the best I can do in terms of close-up, but to give an idea of where it was, I’m also including the photo below which shows you the stick I found it on :

It was surprising to see this type of fungus - I initially thought it was some type of optic fibre. Below I include a close-up again to show how the white fungus is coming out from inside a bit of the bark that's peeled off :

I found information about it in a now 5 year-old online newspaper article here and here where there’s also a brief definition for it :

Hair ice, also known as ice wool or frost beard, is a type of ice that forms on dead wood and takes the shape of fine, silky hair.

The scientific name for the fungus that acts in conjunction with the humidity of the wood to give this spectacle is Exidiopsis Effusa.

There's more comprehensive information about this fungus here with very good description and explanation and they also included a time lapse of its formation :

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From what I’ve read and seen as in the You Tube below, it’s a rare phenomenon. I feel fortunate I managed to see it as now I know what it is if I come across it again.

Thank you for reading !