Coral Slime

This is not a fungus, but a slime mold called the coral slime, Ceratiomyxa fruticulosa. Slime molds creep along rotten logs consuming bacteria, tiny bits of organic material, and fungal spores. They are fascinating creatures that are even more understudied than fungi!

This specimen was found on the Blue Square Trail at the Long Ridge Conservation Area, Sullivan, Missouri. This image is part of the article Trailheads: Portals to the Fungal Dimension.