Strange sponge-like blob fungus

These blobs showed up after a rain in our wood mulch. It is coniferous mulch.

Anyone recognize them?

no fungus here please. this is the *plant* ID forum.

Commonly known as "dog vomit fungus". https://www.google.com/search?num=10&hl=en&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1697&bih=912&q=dog+vomit+fungus&oq=dog+vomit+fungus

It is the same as the RED GOO fungus in your other post. Until recently fungi and plants were in the same group...now they have their own group. This forum and Plant Pests and Diseases would be the most logical place for Non-subscribers to post their questions.

Actually, Fungi did not receive their own "Kingdom" until 1969 (Robert Whitaker). There had been much conflict within ICBN over it and it was decided that the formation of a third kingdom for fungi was needed. In 1980, a separate Nomenclature Code was established for Bacteria and viruses, the ICNB.

For the record, this stuff is not a fungus -- and it is not in the Plant or Fungus kingdom.

It is Fuligo septica -- Dog Vomit Slime Mold (but nor is it a true mold) -- and it belongs in the same kingdom as an Amoeba.

The yellow mass is actually capable of crawling across the ground surface (like a giant Amoeba) when it first emerges from the soil -- then it hardens in place, releases spores and dies.

Let's ease up a bit, shall we? After all, this is something that was posted for identification. So it must not have been known what it was. Not knowing what it was, we can't expect it to be filed accurately.

As to what kingdom it belongs to, Wikipedia has a good article on the history of the number of kingdoms over time.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_%28biology%29
It should be noted that the date something is proposed and it is accepted are not the same.

I recall learning in grade school that there were two kingdoms, plants and animals. Note that when a third kingdom was added, it was distinguished by unicellular organisms, so this one would seem not to qualify.

This is not the state of the art of modern classification, nor the way things are organized here on DG (which is what really matters). But again, at the time of posting, the ID of the organism was not known, so I don't think the post is inappropriate.

And neither did I.

Ahem.

I moved the thread to the Garden Pests and Diseases, which is arguably a better place for it and I've sent a note to the original poster.

Let's all ease up a bit on the technicalities and help this member feel welcome to tap into the helpful and friendly atmosphere DG members are known for providing :-)

I'm not even in on the conversation and I felt the cyber-tension. Here's hoping the original poster will come back.