Geograph - photograph every grid square

This is a common species ("abundant throughout the British Isles, one of the commonest species", according to Bruce Ing's "The Myxomycetes of Britain and Ireland – An Identification Handbook").

These not-quite-mature sporangia (spore capsules) are borne on long slender stalks. The sporangia are generally globular; those that appear not to be, in this picture, are the result of several fusing together.

The habitat is a large chunk of wood beside a NS3977 : Path through the woods, close to a NS3977 : Mound beside the River Leven.

Compare NS3977 : A slime mould - Comatricha nigra, where mature sporangia are shown in the upper half of the picture.