title: Stemonitis splendens
text: # Stemonitis splendens
  
  Stemonitis splendens, commonly known as the chocolate tube slime, is a species of slime mold.
  
  ## Description
  
  ### Fruiting body
  
  The sporangia are dark purplish brown, smooth, dry, 10–20 mm tall, and 1–2 mm in diameter. The stem is black, 3–5 mm long, and less than 1 mm thick.
  
  ### Spore
  
  The spores are 6–9 µm in diameter, brown, globose, and covered in small warts. They are released into the air if touched.
  
  ## Ecology and distribution
  
  Specimens grow in small, compact clusters on sheltered, decaying wood. It is quite common within its range. In Australia the species has been observed in all states.
  
  