What on earth is this?

[John Liddle]

Not sure whether this is animal or plant, so posted here.

Spotted in the garden this morning - any experts who can identify it?

What is it by John Liddle, on Flickr

[colin C]

Re: What on earth is this?

It looks fungal of some description, but I really haven't a clue John.

[Richard W]

Re: What on earth is this?

It looks like a myxomycete - commonly called slime moulds but not moulds at all. They are very weird and strange things, their life history is most peculiar, well worth reading about. This could be Mucilago crustacea or similar.

Try this link for pictures, including the one I've suggested.

http://www.first-nature.com/fungi/~slime-moulds.php

[John Liddle]

Re: What on earth is this?

Richard - many thanks for your input, which I reckon is spot on. These are weird and wonderful organisms to say the least - I shall check tomorrow and see if it has moved!

[colin C]

Re: What on earth is this?

It looks like a myxomycete - commonly called slime moulds

I never cease to be amazed at the breadth of knowledge on this Forum.

[Nathaniel]

Re: What on earth is this?

I am sure that this is not connected to what John has posted. I read in the papers recently that someone found lumps of ice in their garden- photos were also shown- and it appears that they had fallen from a passing plane! I don't know whether other members had seen this news item.

[Richard W]

Re: What on earth is this?

I am sure that this is the slime mould I named, it looks exactly like it. It is in fact one of our commonest species, grows on plant stems and often found on lawns, but doesn't always last long as it is easily washed away by heavy rain.
I have the definitive book on myxomycetes which describes it as "unmistakeable" and I have to agree.
You can see the way it has spread both over and under the plant stems, definitely not something that has fallen onto them