At least I think this is a great discovery. I managed to catch this slime mold in what seems to be multiple stages of growth. The first photo was taken a couple of days before the others. When I returned to the stump after a good soaking rain I found the blob had grown considerably and was displaying all it’s charms.

To the best of my knowledge this slime mold is:

Ceratiomyxa fruticulosa var. porioides

There’s not much information out on the web but my photos of it’s brain structure looks just like others that have been identified. (Correctly or not as the case may be)

What I think is the first stage looks like something that runs out of a toddler’s nose during winter. A clear snot like ooze had engulfed the surrounding moss. It appears to thicken and turn white as it ages.

The white stuff thickens even more turning yellow and looks like Witch’s Butter – Tremella mesenterica at this stage. But don’t let the photo fool you, this slime is not a tasty jelly mushroom.

I can only guess this is the mature stage and what looks like a brain coral is the spore bearing structure.

Compare the first photo with this one and you can see how the blob has grown. Check out the lower left part of the twig.

The last image is linked to a larger size (1024 x 768) and you can use it as a desktop background to remind you of your favorite wiseacre.
Nudge Nudge, Wink Wink

Oh my, look what happened to the plasmodium. Either it ran out of food or it sensed a change in the environment that caused it to turn into sporangia.

Lycogala epidendrum

It started to turn brown overnight.

Plasmodium – Think BLOB (the movie). It can creep along up to an inch per hour as a vein like mass of protoplasm eating and growing as it moves.

Sporangia – in this case a ‘cushioned’ ball made up of spores. When young the ball is a nice bright orange and the insides are liquid.

A cute little cushion on a bed of moss.

The cushions are squishy

Be careful or you might get that teenage feeling when it goes ‘POP’.

This was a young one when the inside was still liquid. And believe me it popped good, sending the fluid a long way. Finger licking good.

More toothpaste on another rotting log.

I didn’t realize how much older it was until I put my finger to it. The inside of this one had already turned into a paste.

The insides (when left alone) will continue to dry and turn brown. Basically it’s a spore sack.

————–

This is also called Wolf’s Milk slime mold. I can’t imagine why. Too bad whoever gave it that name didn’t watch the Simpsons. Who wants an Orange Squishy from the Kwik-E-Mart?

If this year’s slime post didn’t make you queezy enough – try last year’s:
Toothpaste Slime Mold – Lycogala epidendrum

BTW – this is not a fungus even though it looks like a puffball.

Here are my picks for the best Halloween themed plants.

Ghost Plants

I never did identify this plant. You can see the post here: Ghost Plant. These were gowing alongside other ghost plants / Indian Pipes – Monotropa uniflora

I’m tempted to call them Zombie Pods. Why? I was struck how they looked so much like the UnDead version of the seedpods of Grass of Parnassus – Parnassia glauca.

Well whatever they are – stick them in your Indian Pipe and smoke them.

Got Milkweed?

What’s Halloween without fangs?

Toothpaste Slime Mold – Lycogala epidendrum

Here’s one for the kids. This is a special Halloween toothpaste. Have them brush their teeth with this after every piece of candy they eat. I guarantee it will curb their candy cravings.

———————————————————————————————–

For all those that have wondered what happened to me – I’ve joined the ranks of the UnDead with a moderate case of Zombie flu I picked while down on Long Island. I’m home now but it’s going to take some time before I quit craving brains.

I went down to dig up the entrance garden. Everything must go, in a couple of weeks there’s going to be a huge hole where the house now is. I managed to get most plants transplanted to other areas but the stone I haven’t touched yet. I wasn’t eating enough brains and my strength waned to the point I needed to come home and recharge my batteries.

I’ll have to go back in a week or so and continue ripping things up – carefully.