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Project Noah Nature School
Didymium Nigripes
Sporocarps long-stalked, globose, total height 1.5 mm. Sporotheca umbilicate below, 0.3-0.5 mm diam., white. Hypothallus discoid, black. Stalk slender, dark brown to black, often slightly paler towards the top. Peridium membranous, grey-brown, mottled, thickly covered with white crystals. Columella subglobose, dark brown, calcareous. Capillitium delicate, of brown or colourless threads with a few thickened areas, little branched. Spore-mass dark brown. Spores pale violet-brown, 7-10 µm diam., verruculose with clusters of larger warts. Plasmodium grey or colourless ( spores of this spotting ---> http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/821... )
on dead leaves, herbaceous stems, and twigs, less commonly on wood ( http://www.hiddenforest.co.nz/slime/inde... ), ( http://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20q?searc... ), ( http://slimemold.uark.edu/fungi/default.... )
Slime mold or mould is a broad term describing protists that use spores to reproduce. Slime molds were formerly classified as fungi, but are no longer considered part of this kingdom. Their common name refers to part of some of these organisms' life cycles where they can appear as gelatinous "slime". This is mostly seen with the myxomycetes, which are the only macroscopic slime molds. Slime molds have been found all over the world and feed on microorganisms that live in any type of dead plant material. For this reason, these organisms are usually found in soil, lawns, and on the forest floor, commonly on deciduous logs. However, in tropical areas they are also common on inflorescences, fruits and in aerial situations (e.g., in the canopy of trees) and also grow in air conditioners, especially when the drain is blocked. In urban areas, they are found on mulch or even in the leaf mold in gutters. One of the most commonly encountered slime molds is the yellow Physarum polycephalum, found both in nature in forests in temperate zones, as well as in classrooms and laboratories. Most slime molds are smaller than a few centimeters, but some species may reach sizes of up to several square meters and masses of up to 30 grams. Many have striking colours such as yellow, brown and white
Spotted on Dec 3, 2011
Submitted on Dec 4, 2011
7 Comments
yes stay, at least a while. i need someone, who corrects my id. and has at least also expirience at that area. Nice spotting, i wish my camera was also this clear. that's, unfortunately, but the month is almost over!! take a break. :))
added to: Myxomycetes (Slime Moulds) of the World - mission . you're welcome clive, i'm happy to be part of your, needed substitute mission !! thumbs up :)) And most important for me, i/we get to see your fresh made spotting , finally.!!
thank you very much. I will look put that infos to use. Maybe you had seen that this spotting was first: physarum or didymium ? Then 2 days ago, i had reposted it as physarum (thought it would be one), i still have some specimen, will analyse them, the next days. try to figure out WHERE the lime-crystals are hidden. what do you think of didymium minus ?
forgot to mention: the white head/columella is good to see, at the second picture, the right side. !!
hi clive. YES. now i have a microscope, about 1 week. That was next lazyness and holidays, one reason, why i wasn't online the recent days. With the microscope, schould i practice more. Do you know some good spore-keys for slime molds and maybe also (except yours,dol,eol,eumycetoan project), some good site for refferences. I really love your spottings so far, and the hidden forest became one of my favorites. -- back to above : there were only one branch, on this branch 3 site are with fruitbodies, on these seperated sites (above= to me, left= ground/underside) where few clusters. all clusters from above were pointing into the sky, the at the left site, were more bent downwards, and the underside were also downwards. Pro cluster or site, were the f.bodies almost look-alike, in size-matter. above were the biggest, left and down were smaller. At picture 3: right in front: the left one has a grey- head and the right a little white head. At my microscope session: were i preparing a glass, i tried to cut the grey-head, but he fell off and uncovered the little white head which were attached to the stem. As a m&m: the nut is the white head attached to the stem and the grey head is as the chocolate around it (darker at the inside). WHAT IS YOUR OPINION ? (i'm almost sure about the "slime mold", i doubt some sort of asco/basidio-myceten!) will try to get more activ again,so till next time!!
thanks laura, who's thinking this isn't beautiful ( :) ) . the dutch name ruffly translated means: " Small spotted, CRYSTAL cup" - so even the name says beautiful. no serious- thanks for your comment
Alex, please could you take a look at this for me? http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/794...
Wow, so cool!! They look like tiny, snow covered trees :) I love it when photos show off the beauty of organisms people don't think of as beautiful.