Meet the incredible Hair Ice Fungus in this short clip taken from a longer upcoming winter mushroom hunting video.
This amazing sight is the only known ice that is actually created by a fungus. Although still in the process of being researched, Exidiopsis effusa is believed to create a sort of antifreeze solution that prevents the ice that you see here from recrystallizing. Instead, it forms these micro hairlike fibers (that are actually 10x thinner than a human hair!).
Exidiopsis effusa grows in hardwood species. Here in the Pacific Northwest, I have only seen this hair ice coming out of Red Alder, but if you're located out east, I believe you may also observe this coming from Beech or Oak.
This is a rare sight because the conditions have to be just perfect. We're looking for a situation where there is a lot of moisture and the temperatures dip just below freezing, but not cold enough for the ground to freeze. Essentially, this is the perfect frost condition... but this isn't a form of frost. This is a result of capillary action. You'll notice that the hair ice will bend towards heat as it grows, giving it a wild wavy, flowing pattern. Analysis of the melt water has revealed the presence of tannins and lignins in the actual ice.
This is quite a sight to see! So if you're located here in the PNW, get outside and see if you can catch a glimpse. It is super fleeting, so if you missed it this time around, keep your eye on the weather and try to catch those perfect condition windows.
Thanks for watching - and Happy Trails!
This was filmed in Western Washington on the morning of 2/16/24.
#mushroom #fungi #mushroomhunting
25 авг 2024