This creamy-coloured crumbly mass, the fruiting body of a slime mould, was about 7cm long, and covered in tiny finger-like projections. It was found encrusted onto blades of grass (a very typical habitat for this species), and it is at an early stage in its development (compare some other contributors' photographs,
TM0634 : Autumn slime mould species in grassland (1) and
SD7176 : Slime mould on grass, Twisleton, showing different specimens at a similar stage of development).
Beneath the outer covering (the cortex), this slime mould contains a complex mass of tubules with cross-connections. Another example of the same species was found growing next to this one; it was at a later stage of development (about a day older), and it shows the internal structure more clearly; see the "next stage" link below.
This is the first of a series of three images showing different stages of the slime mould's development.
Next stage:
Link