What in the Woods is That?
Our biweekly guessing game!
Whatever draws us into the forest—be it birdwatching or logging, hiking or hunting—all of us are unified by the sense of wonder we feel in the outdoors. The forests, fields, and streams of our region are full of mystery, and if you stop and look closely, you’ll see all sorts of oddities.
Below find a picture of one such woodlands curio. Guess what it is and you’ll be eligible to win a copy of The Outside Story, a paperback collection of our Outside Story newspaper columns. A prize winner will be drawn at random from all the correct entries. The correct answer, and the winner’s name, will appear when the next column is posted.
This Week’s Entry
Penny Harris of Cambridge, Vermont found this gelatinous ribbon of brown stuff on a log next to some moss. Do you know what it is?
Answer
Jelly Fungus.
This slimy-looking brown ribbon is jelly fungus. This late-season fungus swells when wet, appearing slimy and jelly-like, shriveling and thinning out in dry weather. This particular fungus appears to be the species Tremella foliacea, known also as brown witch’s butter or leafy jelly fungus.
This week’s contest winner was Alan Seamans of Lisbon, ME