Wolf's Milk Slime Mould

When I found these strange pink blobs while I was photographing fungus at Rammamere Common last month, I honestly thought that someone has stuck some old bubble gum to a fallen Birch truck. I initially thought that it was a fungus, possibly Coral Spot, but found out later that it was actually a Plasmodial Slime Mould called Wolf's Milk Lycogala epidendrum. How it got this strange name name I can't imagine, but Lycogala actually means Wolf's Milk and although easily mistaken for a fungus is in fact completely unrelated. If the outer wall of the young balls is broken they excrete a pink paste-like fluid which gives the mould it's other name, Toothpaste Slime. The fruiting bodies occur either scattered or in small groups as small, cushion-like blobs that usually turn browner when as they become more mature. Wolf's Milk is found from June to November on damp wood and large logs throughout Europe and North America.

Wolf's Milk Slime Mould Lycogala epidendrum