This is hair ice, it’s a rare type of ice formation where the presence of a type of fungus in rotting wood produces thin strands of ice which can resemble hair or cotton candy.
One of the first records of this ice was recorded by Alfred Wegener (who also discovered the continental drift) in 1918. He observed a strange ice forming only on wet dead wood and a theorized that a specific fungi must be the catalyst for the smooth, silky hairs of ice.
Hair ice forms on humid winter nights when the temperature is just below freezing. It’s most likely to form on dead alder branches.
Hair ice resembles hair or cotton candy. Hair ice is also known as frost flowers, frost beard, or ice wool. A fungus called Exidiopsis effusa is responsible for hair ice. The fungus produces thin threads of mycelium on branches, and hair ice grows on those branches.
Hair ice is not poisonous to touch, but it is also not edible. It’s a very rare occurrence, so if you’re lucky enough to see some on your morning walks too, please take some nice photos, and if you have time send one along to me, I’d love see and share them!
Sasysquatchgirl 