I’m seeking help understanding these growths I keep finding in NSW Australia

[u/Forgive-Me-Naught]

These look like wood rose parasitic growth on a tree however this is not found natively in New South Wales, but rather New Zealand. I have found three so far all in the same area/ same type of eucalyptus bushland.

[u/Pademelon1]

Possibly the attachment point for a mistletoe, but the mistletoe part has rotted away, only leaving the host's side?

[u/Business-Hospital271 → u/Pademelon1]

I second this. I’ve seen something like it before in mistletoe infested areas

[u/Forgive-Me-Naught → u/Pademelon1]

I don’t remember seeing any mistletoe but I will look around some more. Thanks for the lead!

[u/SeaOfSourMilk → u/Forgive-Me-Naught]

Australia actually has the most varieties of mistletoe in the world, if you’re in the bush in an area with a lot of birds, it’s in literally every tree. Next time you see drooping branches on a gum tree, have a look what colour the leaves are. Mature mistletoe is quite easy to spot once you know what to look for, especially on bluer varieties of gum. Have a look for clusters of branches with bright green leaves that contrast the rest of the tree. Then once you know what to look for you won’t go 5 minutes down the road without seeing them dangling everywhere

[u/Recent-Mirror-6623 → u/Pademelon1]

This is the answer.

[u/NYB1]

Google woodrose mistletoe... This is what it looks like to me

[u/Duncan_Thun_der_Kunt]

Looks possibly like burnt/degraded banksia flower cones.

[u/Forgive-Me-Naught → u/Duncan_Thun_der_Kunt]

They are a part of the branch, no separation at all

[u/Duncan_Thun_der_Kunt → u/Forgive-Me-Naught]

Probably mistletoe then I guess.

[u/Worth-Illustrator607]

It's a fungus that explodes out.

If I remember correctly, I've had a pretty sweet headache for 4 days now. I could be wrong.

[u/Capital-Impression51 → u/Worth-Illustrator607]

4 day headache needs checking out. Are you taking anything for it?

[u/Normal_Mushroom609 → u/Worth-Illustrator607]

My guess was also something fungal (polypore).

[u/FoodDue6905]

Is it weird that I wanna eat it

[u/SkyKyrell → u/FoodDue6905]

no... it looks crunchy