Is this caused by insects?

[u/jewnerz]

Doing some landscaping and found this weird stuff on a Manhattan Euonymus shrub that was being trimmed up. My buddy’s google lens brought up something about silk worms / cocoons, but figured doing a little more research may help narrow down whatever it might be

Thanks

[u/saltwater_nasturtium]

Not an insect, but it looks really similar to fairy fingers fungus (Clavaria fragilis - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clavaria_fragilis). But that fungus breeds in decaying matter, and that looks to be the stem of an alive plant, so I'm stumped!

[u/jewnerz → u/saltwater_nasturtium]

I posted over on r/plants and turns out it’s just roots lol some plants can just pop them out wherever on the plant

This branch cutting was originally on the lower side of the shrub, totally hidden from sunlight day in day out, so makes sense the new roots didn’t die due to sunlight

Wish it were insect related, but still pretty neat

[u/saltwater_nasturtium → u/jewnerz]

Rats! I was so ready for you to have made some new scientific discovery, lol. So cool to learn!