Geograph - photograph every grid square

A slime mould - Enteridium lycoperdon

This fruiting body was growing on a standing dead tree, close to the cycle route.

This slime mould was about 7cm high, and was as glutinous as it looks; this is an early stage of the fruiting body. It later develops a smooth silvery surface, which then splits to expose a brown spore mass beneath. When the spores have been dispersed by wind and rain (around two weeks after the stage shown here), there is little left to see but inconspicuous delicate wisps, resembling soft foam padding. (Although they are not shown here, I was able to record all of these stages photographically.)

See also SX8088 : A slime mould - Enteridium lycoperdon, which shows a slightly later stage of the same species.

Enteridium lycoperdon is a fairly common species of slime mould, and is typically seen on standing dead trees in the spring, or on large pieces of fallen wood. Native alder is a common host; the slime mould emerges from beetle holes in the bark.