A case of a curios alien growth?

Dear gardeners,

I wasnt too sure where to post this query but hopefully this is the correct stage for it. Its actually on behalf of my brother who has a houseplant, he has no idea what it is but looks like some type of ornamental grass to my untrained eye.
anyhow said plant has sprouted a strange alien like growth at the base which hasnt previously been seen.
so the questions are 1) what is the plant please? 2) is the growth part of the plant or a separate entity?
best regards
Genghis The Dog

 

Looks like a fungus to me.

 

The house plant is a type of Palm, and it's a fungal growth coming from the roots/compost.

I would remove the fungal growth...

 

ok thanks Sian I'll let my brother know