Unknown plant or fungus observed in cottonwood log

Observation by Seth Myre:

It was found (this fungus) on a log beached on a bank. This was the only growth I could find on the log or anywhere else around the area. As for the type of wood, I'm fairly certain that it is what the locals around here call cottonwood. Nobody I have asked has seen any plant like this and I was unable to find anything on google about it. I touched it soon after the picture and it turned into a maroon colored powder.

Comment by LEO Network editors:

Thanks for the great close up photo on this Seth. We have had a lot of interesting plants, molds, slimes and fungi posted to LEO Network over the years, but I dont see anything like this in the LEO Network library. I have shared your post with one of our fungi advisors (gurus?), Gino Gratziano. Perhaps he will recognize this or can at least help us narrow it down to plant, fungus or what ever else it is. Mike Brubaker

Comment by Gino Gratziano:

This looks like a slime mold in the genus Stemonitis. I am new to slime molds, and just got my first guide to these. This genus has that very distinct growth habit of those narrow stalk under the thicker taller end of the fruiting body, and they are found on decaying wood.