You won't believe what this Aussie found in their bathroom (Hint: It’s extremely rare!)
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Have you ever found something strange and unexpected in your home? We're not just talking about the usual bugs or spiders that tend to pop up every now and then. No, we mean something far more peculiar.
And we know discovering mould or mildew in a bathroom is not a rare occurrence, but one Sydney resident found something even more unusual when they saw a yellow growth in the corner of their bathroom.
Upon discovering a new growth that looked more like a yellow mess in the corner of his bathroom, one Sydney resident snapped a picture and uploaded it to a local Facebook group to get some answers from the locals.
‘Does anyone have any idea what is growing in the corner of my toilet?’ He wrote in his post.
And although the comments section quickly became full of educated guesses – including some witty comments – none of the answers he got was what he hoped to hear.
(Members, can you guess what this is? We actually have the right answer, but we’re curious to know what you think! Share your guesses in the comments!)
‘Looks like a new lemon curd doughnut!’ One said while others questioned if it was a ‘toilet duck’ or a ‘jellyfish’.
Some people jokingly suggested that the yellow mess could be a similar growth from the TV show The Last of Us, where the characters are navigating through a zombie apocalypse as a result of a deadly fungus spreading.
‘It’s the start of the apocalypse,’ one commented.
Others were more serious with their comments and suggested that the resident give the space a ‘good clean and regular airing’ for the ‘mushroom’.
So, what is this yellow intruder exactly?
An expert shed light on the mysterious growth and identified it as a fungus that’s better known as the Flowerpot Parasol.
These are easily recognisable because of their small size and their bright yellow bell-shaped cap. As the name suggests, it’s common to spot these inside potted plants and greenhouses. However, it is ‘very rare’ for one to be found sprouting indoors. It also poses a significant issue for the resident as these fungi are known to be toxic to humans and animals once ingested.
Dr Tom May, a Research Scientist of Mycology at the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, said that the appearance of the Flowerpot Parasol indicates that ‘there’s wet wood behind the panelling’.
Dr May also explained that these types of fungi feed on decaying matter, such as mulch or wet wood. This means water has ‘definitely infiltrated’ the homeowner’s walls, and it has started to cause them to decay.
Much like other fungi like mould, for instance, Flowerpot Parasols spread by releasing spores and can cause respiratory-related issues for people who have access to the affected area or those who live inside the property.
‘You definitely don’t want a mushroom inside your house releasing spores,’ Dr May explained.
This type of fungus is also common throughout the tropics and subtropics and extends into warmer parts of temperate zones. It rarely appears in cooler areas, however.
To get rid of these growths, remove the caps as soon as possible so you can remove the source of the spores and avoid further growths from appearing.
If you find these in your potted plants, scrape the top 2 inches of soil off the pot and replace it. However, there is a chance that the fungus may regrow. Once it does, you may be better off changing the soil to get rid of the fungi.
What were some of your guesses, members? Have you ever found something strange in your home? We'd love to hear about it, too! Share them with us in the comments below.
And we know discovering mould or mildew in a bathroom is not a rare occurrence, but one Sydney resident found something even more unusual when they saw a yellow growth in the corner of their bathroom.
Upon discovering a new growth that looked more like a yellow mess in the corner of his bathroom, one Sydney resident snapped a picture and uploaded it to a local Facebook group to get some answers from the locals.
‘Does anyone have any idea what is growing in the corner of my toilet?’ He wrote in his post.
And although the comments section quickly became full of educated guesses – including some witty comments – none of the answers he got was what he hoped to hear.
(Members, can you guess what this is? We actually have the right answer, but we’re curious to know what you think! Share your guesses in the comments!)
It looks like a sponge, doesn’t it? Credit: Facebook
‘Looks like a new lemon curd doughnut!’ One said while others questioned if it was a ‘toilet duck’ or a ‘jellyfish’.
Some people jokingly suggested that the yellow mess could be a similar growth from the TV show The Last of Us, where the characters are navigating through a zombie apocalypse as a result of a deadly fungus spreading.
‘It’s the start of the apocalypse,’ one commented.
Others were more serious with their comments and suggested that the resident give the space a ‘good clean and regular airing’ for the ‘mushroom’.
So, what is this yellow intruder exactly?
An expert shed light on the mysterious growth and identified it as a fungus that’s better known as the Flowerpot Parasol.
These are easily recognisable because of their small size and their bright yellow bell-shaped cap. As the name suggests, it’s common to spot these inside potted plants and greenhouses. However, it is ‘very rare’ for one to be found sprouting indoors. It also poses a significant issue for the resident as these fungi are known to be toxic to humans and animals once ingested.
Dr Tom May, a Research Scientist of Mycology at the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, said that the appearance of the Flowerpot Parasol indicates that ‘there’s wet wood behind the panelling’.
Flowerpot Parasols are toxic to humans and animals if ingested. Credit: Shutterstock
Dr May also explained that these types of fungi feed on decaying matter, such as mulch or wet wood. This means water has ‘definitely infiltrated’ the homeowner’s walls, and it has started to cause them to decay.
Much like other fungi like mould, for instance, Flowerpot Parasols spread by releasing spores and can cause respiratory-related issues for people who have access to the affected area or those who live inside the property.
‘You definitely don’t want a mushroom inside your house releasing spores,’ Dr May explained.
Flowerpot Parasols can spread easily. Image credit: The Seniors Discount Club
This type of fungus is also common throughout the tropics and subtropics and extends into warmer parts of temperate zones. It rarely appears in cooler areas, however.
To get rid of these growths, remove the caps as soon as possible so you can remove the source of the spores and avoid further growths from appearing.
If you find these in your potted plants, scrape the top 2 inches of soil off the pot and replace it. However, there is a chance that the fungus may regrow. Once it does, you may be better off changing the soil to get rid of the fungi.
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