Slime mold

Stemonitis axifera is a species of slime mold found around the world. It fruits in clusters on dead wood, and has distinctive tall reddish-brown sporangia, supported on slender stalks. The erect, stalked cylindrical sporangia are arranged into bundles or clusters that are 7–15 mm (0.3–0.6 in) tall. Each sporangium is supported by a thin, shining, black stalk that is 3–7 mm (0.1–0.3 in) long. The bright rusty brown color of mature sporangia lightens to a pale brown after the spores have been dispersed. Spores measure 5 by 7 μm and have a smooth to minutely punctate surface texture.