It was a case of mycological chaos.
The Australian town resembled a set HBOdystopian horror movie “The Last of Us” after a mysterious red mass grew under a fire hydrant – and eventually “climbed up the gutter”.
Photo from fungal anomaly first appeared on Reddit, sparking a raging debate over the identity of the organism.
“This thing has been growing under a leaky hydrant for the past few months,” reads the caption of the post of the groundbreaking find, which is alleged to have taken place in a Brisbane automobile park.
The accompanying photo, reportedly taken by a friend of the poster in October 2022, shows a water tap engulfed by an unidentified burgundy substance.
Based on the post, their friend was the primary to note the fiery red mushroom growing on the “big rock” under the hydrant.
The spigot began “leaking a yr ago” – which they think helped facilitate the expansion of the maroon fungus.
“We tried to show it off ourselves, but we couldn’t,” a Redditor quoted their friend. “We’ve contacted the owners and the council but nobody has come to shut it down.”
![Red mass in the embryonic stage.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/NYPICHPDPICT000008660050.jpg?w=640)
From there, the supposed spores appeared in the shape of a snowball.
“Eventually, the mushroom on the rock grew until it reached the within of the hydrant,” says a friend. “Then someone took the stone and all the pieces disappeared.”
Nevertheless, the water continued to pour out, causing a vermilion “mushroom” to grow on the bottom.
The friend continued to document the mass over time, describing its progress because it slowly devoured the complete hydrant à la “The Blob” or the alien symbiote, reported news.au.com.
In the most recent photo updatethe spongy organism rose up to the spigot and turned grotesquely green, red, and brown.
![The mass begins to climb up the spout.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/NYPICHPDPICT000008660051.jpg?w=640)
![The supposed fungus creeps into the spout.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/NYPICHPDPICT000008660048.jpg?w=640)
Readers have offered theories concerning the possible origin of the cuddling hydrant – many compare it to the zombie mushroom from the blockbuster The Last of Us.
“Is that this how “The Last of Us” begins? It’s Cordyceps!” one Redditor exclaimed, and another person added, “Rattling, that appears crazy.”
“It’s red, so firefighters are drawn to it like a moth to a flame,” one other joked. “The fungus spreads from hydrant to hydrant by firefighters, continuing its life cycle.”
“I’m disgusted but fascinated at the identical time,” said one horrified onlooker. “I feel the necessity to poke him with a very long stick.”
The unique poster advised against it, joking that the fungus “could crawl on a long stick and in your fingers.”
![The spigot-eating anomaly in question.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/NYPICHPDPICT000008660046.jpg?w=1024)
“I’m pretty sure it’s peat moss (or similar), which is why she clearly loves the spill!” wrote one of the redditors. “Red as a consequence of light exposure will likely be greener in shade/underwater. Edit: thought of Java, but growth no, probably peat best.
Other theories included all the pieces from slime mold, algae, to “bacteria just having fun with the iron in the water,” in line with the post.
Unfortunately, despite posting a photo of the fireplace hydrant to numerous science forums, including mycology threads, the Redditor said there was still no “definitive answer.”
In some close-ups, the body gave the impression to be feasted on by small white worms.
“There are aphids (or mites?) having a great time there,” they wrote. “Also ladybugs who probably have a quick snack for aphids? The circle of life.”
![Hydrant engulfed by mass.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/NYPICHPDPICT000008660052.jpg?w=640)
![Unidentified creatures feast on the mass.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/NYPICHPDPICT000008660053.jpg?w=640)
The invasion comes as fears of mushrooms have peaked – and never simply because of ‘The Last of Us’.
Earlier this month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that a deadly and drug-resistant fungal disease was spreading rapidly in hospitals across the USA.
The fungus, named candida auris, causes serious blood infections and even death in individuals with weakened immune systems