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Fuligo septica (L.) F.H.Wigg

Slime mold

KingdomFungiMushrooms, lichens, gel fungi, yeasts, and molds; also called eukaryotes
DivisionMyxomycotaSlime molds, from the Greek words μύξα (myxa), which means “mucus”, and μύκης (myces), which means “fungus”
ClassMyxomycetesMacroscopic slime molds
SubclassEndosporeaeSlime molds with endospores
OrderPhysaralesMyxo slime molds
FamilyPhysaraceaeSlime mold family
GenusFuligoFrom the Proto-Indo-European *dʰuh₂li-, from *dʰewh₂-. See also Latin furvus, “dark, swarthy,” and fūmus, “smoke.” For the terminal element, compare -īgō. A reference to the sooty appearance of the spores
SpeciessepticaFrom Ancient Greek σηπτικός (sēptikós), “septic, putrefying”

About plant names...

This slime mold has some pretty unsavory names, like dog vomit, but it is commonplace in damp weather, on rotting leaves, wood and in bark mulch. It munches on fungal spores, bacteria, and other microbes. Slime mold is pretty amazing stuff. It is a "eukaryotic microbe"—a giant, single-celled organism, one of more than 30,000 species.

Identification: The bright yellow, jellylike slime, which seems to appear out of nowhere after wet weather, is conspicuous and hard to confuse. Photo 24 shows it in a hard, crusty phase, with a white powdery top. In photo 13, it is in its dormant, dried out phase. This looks a bit like soil, but it is a fine powder which explodes like a smoke bomb if you step on it.

Edibility: Just kidding.

I took a time lapse movie of this slime mold, atop some decaying bark mulch. It appeared to be dormant for most of the several hours, but in this segment, covering about 15-20 minutes, it seems to come alive like a creature from the Twi­light Zone:

(Or see it larger here .)

Online References:

Troutsnotes.com

Wayne's Word

Fuligo septica (slime mold)

1 · 7/26/2021 · Acton, Mass­a­chu­setts · By Rhonda Tatiana Schorer

Fuligo septica (slime mold)

2 · 8/22/2009 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 11 × 7″ (27 × 18 cm)

Fuligo septica (slime mold)

3 · 6/16/2012 · Groton Place and Sabine Woods, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 9 × 6″ (22 × 14 cm)

Fuligo septica (slime mold)

4 · 5/17/2010 · Wildlife Pond Loop Trail, Beaver Brook Association Conservation Lands, Hollis, New Hamp­shire · ≈ 8 × 5″ (19 × 13 cm) ID is uncertain

Fuligo septica (slime mold)

5 · After it starts to dry out. · 6/18/2011 · Sue and Rai’s, Phoenix, Mary­land ID is uncertain

Fuligo septica (slime mold)

6 · 9/21/2023 · Borestone Mountain, Elliotsville, Maine · ≈ 10 × 6″ (24 × 16 cm)

Fuligo septica (slime mold)

7 · 9/5/2009 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (17 × 11 cm)

Fuligo septica (slime mold)

8 · 7/3/2015 · Squannacook River Wildlife Area, Townsend, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 8 × 5″ (19 × 13 cm)

Fuligo septica (slime mold)

9 · 6/20/2007 · Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts

Fuligo septica (slime mold)

10 · It looks like the slime mold altered the development of the mushroom. · 7/12/2013 · Wooden Bridge, East Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 10 × 7″ (25 × 16 cm)

 

Fuligo septica description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 26 Sep 2023.

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Fuligo septica (slime mold)

11 · 6/20/2007 · Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts

Fuligo septica (slime mold)

12 · After it starts to dry out. · 6/18/2011 · Sue and Rai’s, Phoenix, Mary­land ID is uncertain

Fuligo septica (slime mold)

13 · 8/22/2009 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 5 × 3½″ (13 × 9.2 cm)

Fuligo septica (slime mold)

14 · 8/26/2009 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 5 × 3½″ (13 × 9.2 cm)

Fuligo septica (slime mold)

15 · After it starts to dry out. · 6/18/2011 · Sue and Rai’s, Phoenix, Mary­land ID is uncertain

Fuligo septica (slime mold)

16 · 9/5/2009 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (17 × 11 cm)

Fuligo septica (slime mold)

17 · After it starts to dry out. · 8/28/2009 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 8 × 5″ (19 × 13 cm) ID is uncertain

Fuligo septica (slime mold)

18 · 6/21/2007 · Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts

Fuligo septica (slime mold)

19 · 7/22/2012 · Wapack Trail, Pack Monadnock, Peterborough, New Hamp­shire · ≈ 14 × 9″ (35 × 23 cm)

Fuligo septica (slime mold)

20 · 8/22/2009 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 3 × 4½″ (7.9 × 11 cm)

Fuligo septica (slime mold)

21 · 8/20/2009 · Tom & Susan’s, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 17 × 12″ (44 × 29 cm)

Fuligo septica (slime mold)

22 · 9/5/2009 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (17 × 11 cm)

Fuligo septica (slime mold)

23 · 6/25/2016 · Old Long Loop, Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, New Hamp­shire

Fuligo septica (slime mold)

24 · 10/5/2009 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 9 × 6″ (22 × 15 cm)