Fuligo septica

I kept the seductive common name of Dog’s Vomit Slime Mould out of the title.

Late in the afternoon, I walked to the bottom of our garden to consult my wife, who was there already, about the evening meal. When we had both finished what we had to say, we simultaneously glanced down at the dead, almost dried out log at our feet. On it was a bright yellow patch (ca 45mm x 35mm) which neither of us had noticed.

This part of the garden has a number of rotting logs, on which various fungi and Myxomycetes live. I recognised this species immediately. I had not seen it in our garden for several years. I photographed it just after we found it (first five images) and again the following day. Then I captured the degradation of the colony on the fourth day (last two images).

These fungus-like organisms are fascinating. Why is a non-dispersal stage so brightly coloured? Although the colony looks the same all the way across, different things are happing at its margins.

I have offered a number of views of the colony.

I don't know what the dark structures in the last image are.

EM-1, Kiron 105mm f16. First image 1/100 sec daylight. Remainder: twin TTL flash. All hand-held.

Harold