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Fuligo septica
Pale yellow plasmodial slime mold in the aethalium stage growing on the bark of a downed hardwood. This specimen was spherical in shape and felt spongy (and even marshmalllowy) in texture. It was around baseball size. Slicing the specimen open revealed a dark brown layer within--which I am assuming is the spore layer. Had a mildly pleasant bitter scent upon cutting it open.
The side of a ridge (growing on the bark of a downed hardwood) in a dense mixed hardwood forest.
From wikipedia: "Like many slime molds, the cells of this species typically aggregate to form a plasmodium, a multinucleate mass of undifferentiated cells that may move in an ameboid-like fashion during the search for nutrients. F. septica's plasmodium may be anywhere from white to yellow-gray,typically 2.5–20 cm (1.0–7.9 in) in diameter, and 1–3 cm (0.4–1.2 in) thick. The plasmodium eventually transforms into a sponge-like aethalium, analogous to the spore-bearing fruiting body of a mushroom; which then degrades, darkening in color, and releases its dark-colored spores. F. septica produces the largest aethalium of any slime mold. "
Spotted on Aug 26, 2017
Submitted on Aug 29, 2017
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