Other sources have insisted that it's merely a dropped wild strawberry. I now think that conclusion is probably correct. Here is a link that might be useful: Shroomery

Slime mold doesn't rot mulch and does not cause disease in plants. It eats the organisms that break down organic matter. Most of the time it's invisible to the naked eye. The orange stuff you see is the reproductive phase, when it makes spores. About the only harm it could do to a plant is smother some leaves if it travels onto them to sporulate.

It's pretty well dried up now, and I went out today and just scraped it off the stem (scrape is kind of too intense a word...it was basically coming off with only a little help from me, and crumbling to dust). I think because I have the plastic tray around the base of the tomato plant, the mold started growing around the soil in the center of the tray (moving from the crack in the tray leading up to the center hole). I guess there are several types of this "slime mold" and this is just one type. Some look watery and goldish yellow, some are puffy and red, some are puffy and yellow (like mine), and some are clear or whitish. Pretty fascinating actually. The stem of the Tom plant looks fine, the entire plant is very healthy looking, and the mold dried up as I read that this type of slime mold does (once it isn't fed any more moisture). I read that you could put down lime, but then, it will screw up the PH your plants need. Most sites said applying anything was pretty much unnecessary. Who knows...maybe it will make my tomatoes taste better? If I keel over from eating one, you can put a Cherokee Tom on my tombstone...lol. Linda

Rinse it off the plants, slime molds don't infect plant tissues. Then, physically remove it from the soil and any other surfaces. Perhaps a moist cloth with some peroxide or vinegar might help (on the wood, not the plants) . But there's no magic treatment for slime molds because they are not considered a problem in any category but aesthetics. Not a mold, not a fungus, not a pest. Those who don't like their appearance should simply physically remove them. BUT! I've just gotta say it......it's pretty darned unique stuff, as far as slime molds go. Very cool. :-)