Wolfs Milk

 

Wolfs Milk Lycogala terrestre, North Yorkshire

Lycogala terrestre despite its fungal appearance is in fact a slime mould (myxomycetes), this term is given rather informally to numerous types of unrelated organisms that can live freely as single cells, or form multicellular structures. Most slime moulds are distinctively different enough from fungi to see a clear difference, however Lycogala is one such species with a similar resemblance. 

The specimens in the picture above are relatively young, at which stage they are soft, cushion shaped balls. Immature Lycogala are variable in colour but typically a pinky-peach colour, if cut they will exude a similar coloured pasty goo (an alternative name is Toothpaste Slime Mould). As it matures it turns brown or brown/grey colour, and at this stage I often think has a similar appearance to small, young King Alfreds Cakes Daldinia concentrica. Once mature Lycogala becomes harder and filled with powdery spores, which at first are paste like and eventually break down into a powdery mass. This species always grows in clusters, I don't think I have ever found or heard of individual specimens and is small almost always below 2cm in diameter. 

This species occurs on damp rotten wood, in my experience always in basal woodland/scrub floor habitats on medium to large logs. I have never found it on standing deadwood, possibly due a lack of humidity and increased aeration in these situations, and it does not attack living wood. This appears to be widespread in both North and East Yorkshire from late summer throughout the autumn, in any situation with damp decaying logs, for this reason it is most likely to be found within woodland habitats.  

This species is basically a decomposer which helps break down fallen wood and like so many other species is a key component of any ecosystem. This is a species which basically feeds on bacteria, yeasts and fungi that feed on decaying wood and is itself consumed by fungi, nematodes and other invertebrates.

The Wolfs Milk common name is presumably derived from the pasty pinky goo which comes out of the body when damaged. I have not seen wolfs milk so cannot comment how much of an accurate description this is, although find it unlikely Wolf milk looks like this.