Slime Moulds


During a foray in the Gorge Track in Palmerston North I came across some slime moulds for the first time, I did not even know they were slime moulds but did recognize them as fungi. They are not mushrooms and inedible but I found them quite fascinating so I photographed them . I don't know much about slime moulds yet but I did manage to identify these two, so there will be more info to come on these mysterious little things!!
Family	Species	Photo
Stemonitaceae Family description still to come!!	*Stemonitis axifera* Found on October 22, 2000 in Manawatu Gorge Track, Palmerston North. About 1.5-2cm high and in groups of large numbers clustered on rotting wood!! Each individual seemed to be standing on a threadlike black stem, rather shiny in appearance. Spores seemed to be carried on the top two thirds of the stem, brown in colour and formed a dusty cloud when touched. On the very tips are shiny black balls which I would have thought carried the spores, I'll have to read up on that!!	If you look closely at the picture on the left you may just be able to see the threadlike stems at the base of the fruiting body!!
Trichiaceae Family description still to come!!	Arcyria denudata Found on the same day as S. axifera (Oct. 10,2000) at the Manawatu Gorge in Palmerston North. This mould looks very similar to S. axifera but lacks the shiny ball on the surface and did not grow is as big clusters or groups. It is bright reddish in colour, grows on short threadlike stems but seems to explode into a large cottony mass from the top downwards at maturity releasing it's spores, quite fascinating but difficult to handle, almost like a spider web!! The picture on the right is not very clear, but if you look closely you will see how they start to explode from the top downwards!!
Enteridiaceae	Lycogala epidendrum This specimen was found at the Manawatu Gorge Track in October 2003. About the size of a pea, but stands out in amongst moss due to it's bright pink colour. Very tidy appearance, almost delicious looking, firmly attached to it's host which is dead wood. Filled with a viscous cream the same colour as the outside. Turns brown at maturity and releases it's spores. The second photo shows the contents when it was popped.