Well if you find it undesireable, and don't want it to come back, put it in a trash bag to dispose of it. If you put it on a pile of limbs, its spores will continue to spread, and you may get more growths later.

But the truth is, it may have already released its spores before you dug it up. It's hard to say, not knowing what it is or how long it's been there.

Lainey

I suspect that it is a fruiting body of one of the zillions of decomposing organisms found on dead trees/stumps all over the world. Spores of such organisms are ubiquitious, but require the right environment in order to thrive. Some are quite species specific, too.

What I am saying is that if you left this 'thing' out on the curb, it is not a problem for ANY thing. It needs stumps or dead logs to grow. It won't grow in your lawn all by itself, if that is what you are worried about. If there are still remains of the stump in the ground, then this organism is still present. Spores have nothing to do with that. Expect to see the fruiting body emerging again, until there is nothing left to decompose.

If you posted a picture of it, we could ID the species. OR if you told us the kind of tree, we might be able to narrow down the fungus species.

Here is a picture. It's in my cart. My question is 'Is it contageous?' Thanks, Nancy

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:608874}}

The picture makes it a little hard to tell, but I would bet money that is a grifola frondosa if the 'fronds' are soft and smell mushroomy. That's a helluva find if so. Early in the year for that though. I wish I could find some of these early mushies to clone them!

That's Anne Uumellmahaye!!

ROFL