Owning a home can involve all kinds of unexpected and weird tasks and problems. In some cases, apparently, that means discovering an entirely new species growing on the outside of your house.
One such homeowner recently posted some images to the r/whatsthisplant subreddit of their unnerving discovery in hopes of figuring out what they were dealing with.
"North Eastern United States. This looks like some alien species I've never seen before. There are a couple I noticed growing near my window sill. Thank you for the help," they wrote.
The alien species in question nearly defies description. It is red, it is oozing some sort of liquid, and it is pretty upsetting to look at.
Luckily, several plant-loving Redditors were quick to jump in with knowledge about what category this life-form belongs in.
"Slime mold species," wrote one. "Slime molds are strange and diverse. Not a fungus, plant, animal, or bacteria.. they are in the Kingdom Protista."
Get cost-effective air conditioning in less than an hour without expensive electrical work The Merino Mono is a heating and cooling system designed for the rooms traditional HVAC can't reach. The streamlined design eliminates clunky outdoor units, installs in under an hour, and plugs into a standard 120V outlet — no expensive electrical upgrades required. And while a traditional “mini-split” system can get pricey fast, the Merino Mono comes with a flat-rate price — with hardware and professional installation included. |
"You know, I'm a horticulturalist. And I love mycology and entomology too; I'm not easily creeped out. But slime molds? HATE. I HATE them with a deep, mammalian paranoia. I want to like them, but I can't. My lower-brain forbids it," another commenter wrote.
The specific type of slime mold, according to a few other commenters, is Stemonitis, which the Encyclopedia Britannica somewhat controversially describes as having "some of the most beautiful fruiting bodies among the myxomycetes."
The good news for this homeowner is that despite how scary it looks, slime molds are not harmful. "Despite their threatening appearance, slime molds are not infectious and will not result in anything more than temporary cosmetic damage. Slime molds will not harm humans, pets, or livestock," one Purdue University professor of plant pathology wrote.
Meanwhile, the Redditors of the r/whatsthisplant subreddit had some helpful advice for this Stemonitis-owning homeowner.
TCD Picks » Quince Spotlight
💡These best-sellers from Quince deliver affordable, sustainable luxury for all
"You need Men in Black," wrote one.
"Get a jar and some wood and you can have it as a pet," wrote another.
Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more, waste less, and help yourself while helping the planet.
Cool Picks
