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Project Noah Nature School
Spinellus sp.
When the fungus season is almost over the best candidate for the clean-up job is another fungus. This one forms a thick halo of white with tints of gold and tiny pinheads of clear, gold or black. Some of the filaments are up to 20mm long but much thinner than a human hair.
Found on fungi (Leratiomyces ceres) in the local school gardens. Early afternoon.
"Moulds are made up of very fine threads (hyphae). Hyphae grow at the tip and divide repeatedly along their length creating long and branching chains. The hyphae keep growing and intertwining until they form a network of threads called a mycelium. Digestive enzymes are secreted from the hyphal tip. These enzymes break down the organic matter found in the soil into smaller molecules which are used by the fungus as food. Some of the hyphal branches grow into the air and spores form on these aerial branches. Spores are specialized structures with a protective coat that shields them from harsh environmental conditions such as drying out and high temperatures. They are so small that between 500 – 1000 could fit on a pin head. Spores are similar to seeds as they enable the fungus to reproduce. Wind, rain or insects spread spores. They eventually land in new habitats and if conditions are right, they start to grow and produce new hyphae. As fungi can’t move they use spores to find a new environment where there are fewer competing organisms...." [Society for General Microbiology]
Spotted on Jun 26, 2012
Submitted on Jun 27, 2012
3 Comments
Fungi on fungi, very interesting!
Changed ID. Rhizopus parasitises dung, fruit, leather... Spinellus specialises in macro-fungi hosts (Agarics?) Visually similar otherwise.
interesting !