The Mouse, small-kid time, used to see ads in comics about capsules that when thrown in water would expand into animals, fish, etc. Do those trinkets still exist?
Anyway, The Mouse had a flashback while prepping wood-ear fungus. hee hee.
The quarter is for size reference.
Soaked in boiling water. Expanded to at least twice its dried size. “Release the Kraken”? Hee hee.
Be safe and well.
The Mouse