Question
I am concerned about some wood I picked up from a friend of mine for wood
turning. I am almost positive it is elm and the heartwood looks to be very
diseased and spalted (which is why he thought i would like it for turning).
However recently I noticed very thin (like thread) jet black strands coming out
of the sides. They tend to make balls but some just grow and look like little
branchs. I know that spalting come from fungus that has attacked a tree but I
have never seen this before should I take any more caution then I would with
regular spalted wood?

Answer
If the moisture content of the wood is high enough the fungus will grow these root like filaments (mycorrhizae). As the wood dries the filaments will stop growing. I would let it dry and then  treat it like any other wood you turn and enjoy the designs.