Deposits at the end of my downspout

[lou12]

Every year at about the end of September, I have this deposit at the end of my downspout. Does anyone have any idea what the are? Thanks

[applestar]

Wow that is unusual. Do you do anything to get rid of them? How long do they stay there? Is it sunny/get any sun at that location?

Considering the various sizes of the sac-like shapes, I'm going to guess this is some kind of fungus. Maybe slime mold.

I think your answer will confirm or reject my guess.

[PaulF]

How about poke around in the mass and see what it looks and smells like then? And post some after photos?

[applestar]

Hey, maybe it's Nostoc?

Nostoc: A green, jelly-like substance growing in lawns | MSU Extension
https://msue.anr.msu.edu/news/nostoc_a_g ... g_in_lawns


Within the category of “What is it?” lives a strange-looking organism called Nostoc. During summer 2014, several people brought in samples of a green jelly-like substance growing in their lawns. After a bit of digging, I identified the stuff as Nostoc sp., a genus of cyanobacterium formerly classified as blue-green algae. Nostoc has many colorful names including witches’ butter, mare’s eggs and meadow ears, among others.

It looks like specifically Nostoc pruniforme -- the ones also called "Mare's eggs"


...which led me to this -- I knew I had seen that term before
The Mare's Egg by Carole Spray The Mare's Egg
by Carole Spray
Permalink: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/0920656072