Nostoc

Consistent heavy rains, coupled with warm temperatures, have re-awakened a sleeping primeval organism in southwest Ohio landscapes. The ballooning yellowish-green or bluish-black blobs are the hydrated form of the ancient cyanobacterium, Nostoc commune (Nc).

I’ve posted several Alerts over the years about the ancient cyanobacterium, Nostoc commune (Nc) and always cautioned that the mucilaginous mass can be as slippery as ice. I now have face-to-turf experience. Thankfully, the only thing hurt was my pride.

April showers are bringing forth rubbery yellowish-green or bluish-black blobs of the cyanobacterium, Nostoc commune (Nc). The ballooning blobs are the hydrated form of this ancient organism. Most of the time, it looks like a black, crusty substance devoid of life.

I received an e-mail message earlier this week with images showing colonies of a cyanobacterium, Nostoc commune, growing in openings created by turfgrass succumbing to some other issue. The sender asked me to identify the "black stuff" they believed was killing their lawn.