By Neiljackson
Fife,
United Kingdom 
I have found something that has garden centre experts confused. While digging in my border ( I have dug a border, about 2 spade widths and about 6 metres one way and about 3 - 4 metres the other way, with patio steps in the middle) and have planted nothing in it. Whilst digging the soil over with my spade I have found something quite hard, full of roots and bright pink in the middle. I can only presume that because it is bright pink (as shown in the photos) that it is alive. But what is it. It looks like a piece of raw meat but have found it in two places separated by about 20 feet. I have never put anything into these borders, never put fertilizer or compost, nothing. It has a rather musty smell to it, so could it be a fungus? What is confusing everyone is that it is bright pink in the middle, or even when it is broken apart slightly. When I took all the roots and soil that was around it it looks quite smooth. The soil by the way is the most extreme of softest,almost sand quality to it. I do hope you can figure this out and should \i expect any more. I live about 1000 yards from the beach and sea. I thought I should add that in case the area had anything to do with it. At least if I get an answer I can tell everyone what it is.
22 May, 2010
Answers
I may be way off, but could it be a truffle?!
22 May, 2010
"thanks," but no help
22 May, 2010
Thank you for that answer about a truffle. I thought that they had a brown colour to the inside of them. Hope this item gets people really talking until we find the real answer.
22 May, 2010
I googled truffles and found some interesting stuff incuding about a mushroomy smell. Some images look similar to your mystery object apart from the colour. Apparently they're found near tree roots - are there any tree roots in your border from nearby trees? I don't even know if they're found in the UK or if that's impossible. It was just a thought. Good luck!
22 May, 2010
when you say full of roots were the roots part of it or are they just incidental.
I suspect it could be a fungus but i did think beetroot type tuber. My paeony tubers are pink in the middle.
22 May, 2010
Its an alien landing, beware Neil, its waiting for the call to rescue us all. You've chopped it up .......boo hoo.
23 May, 2010
If no one can answer your question get in touch with Kew Gardens in London or Royal Horticultural Society (google the names) and show them the pictures they may be able to help you out
23 May, 2010
Thank you Hijuju. A very sensible answer. I really do not know what it is, I wish I did. This is the very first time I have dug this border over I only dug it last year. We have been at this address for 3 years now and it was just a lawn before last year which has been there for 20 years before that. I am really confused as to how these 2 things got there, as previously stated, I have found 2 of them some 20 feet apart, so totally seperate from each other but still with the same shape. When I dug into the soft soil it went through this pink thing you see there, had hundreds of small roots all over this "bulb" "tuber" whatever you want to call it. It looks like it is definitely a living organism, but in 10 years of none stop gardening I have never seen the like before, probably never will. Am I going to find more as I keep digging. Will let you know and take a photo of the whole thing. Thanks.
23 May, 2010
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Oooooh! that's well wierd!
Have you ever seen that film 'The Blob'? In other words, I dunno but it looks special.
I love the way youve made a sort of tuber angel remote there.
22 May, 2010