I'm trying, OK??

Actually, I am pretty intrigued by this.

We were out in lovely Sulehay, an Ancient Woodland site, doing coppicing. A wet day but not too cold and very good company.

Instead of cutting things down, I decided to cut things up and was busy sorting brash from logs from possible binders and stakes from stuff that just has to go on the fire.

As for the fire, that will be on raised tin to prevent damage to the soil biota, seeds, plants and bulbs beneath. Great idea, I think.

Anyway, I had need of a visit to the 'ladies'' which caused me to walk some way up the track and duck down behind a big old oak that had been coppiced some long time ago. And there I found this.

It seems likely to be a slime mold - though it is not the one commonly known as 'dog vomit' as that is yellow and this was very white.

I thought it looked most like coral slime or Ceratiomyxa fruticulosa, which is white and translucent. But that is seen from June to October. So it can't be.

A second option, according to my somewhat limited research, is Stemonitis axifera. But this is described as pinkish in its youth and seems to stand on legs that are definitely not visible in my photo.

What about tapioca slime mold, Brefeldia maxima? This is common and therefore a likely bet... but close inspection suggests that the shape is different.

A mystery.

Slime molds are very cool. As One Ian explained, the plasmodial slime molds are individual cells, able to reproduce, who may come together and some cells cede their reproductive capacity to create structures that allow for the creation of spores. They go against the whole selfish gene hypothesis!

OK, my version may not be the best - check out the correct description on this introduction page.

They can also find their way through mazes by the smartest route. They can probably also identify other slime molds.

*** UPDATE! Suzy asked Henry - he of the dormice - and he says it is dog vomit slime. That's also what Ian and Gary thought. I bow to their superior knowledge. But I am rather disappointed as I thought it might be less common. And have a nicer name.