Fuligo septica at Strumpshaw Fen – August 2025

3rd August

Along the path to Basecamp a consolidating blobby plasmodium.

On the trunk which had the sporey Tubifera ferruginosa masses (upper left), another plasmodium – this one spreading out along an linear front trailing protoplasmic veins.

10th August

At The Dell two wonderfully vivid, bright yellow – almost neon – connected aethalia.

A week later the cortexes were degrading, particularly the left aethalium that has much of the spore mass exposed.

Along the drainage channel path, an aethalium beginning to degrade.

After The Outpost on the same log pile that my daughter found a sprawling Fuligo plasmodium, a solitary young aethalium and some centres of plasmodial consolidation that had a fabulous, ruffled, convoluted, and rugose form.

A week later the cortexes were degrading exposing the spore masses.

17th August

Along the drainage channel path on the alder carr edge an aethalium and some residual hypothallus.

Two weeks later the aethalium had disintegrated leaving the cortical layer and a small mass of spores, and spores dispersed around on and in the moss.

Along the way to The Outpost, three aethalia on a stump.

Near The Outpost an aethalium on a twig.

And a small aethalium with a trail of hypothallus and yellow cortical material.

Towards the end of the woodland trail an unexpected Fuligo. But was it a septica?

It had a white cortex with hints of cream. Could this aethalium be Fuligo candida, Fuligo intermedia or just a white, creamy Fuligo septica…?

Unfortunately we didn’t return to the reserve for another two weeks and there was no sign of any residual material of this cream Fuligo septica.

31st August

Near The Outpost another wonderful consolidating plasmodium.