[ID] Fungi

[Action_Man]

Here is a Fungi i found this afternoon, under some rotten pine board, each head is around 2mms.

Might it even be a slime mold ? ...

[Chris Yeates]

hi

it is indeed a slime-mould

it's a strange quirk of fate that mycologists do study these organisms although they are not even remotely related to the fungi, and yet in general they don't study lichens (which all have a fungal partner)

yours is, I think, an Arcyria species (12 spp. in the British Isles), but has not quite reached maturity; when mature the first thing one looks at is whether the loofah-like spore mass with its surrounding network is firmly attached to the basal cup or whether a gentle breath of wind detaches it

hope that helps

Chris

[Action_Man]

Thanks for the possible ID, i will keep an eye on it, and take more photographs as it develops, i have always wanted to find a slime-mold, maybe i`m a little wierd, but i have read a little about them, and there quite fascinating organisms ...

[Chris Yeates]

Originally Posted by Action_Man

Thanks for the possible ID, i will keep an eye on it, and take more photographs as it develops, i have always wanted to find a slime-mold, maybe i`m a little wierd, but i have read a little about them, and there quite fascinating organisms ...

nah . . .

that's not weird . . . . now invading other peoples' countries that's weird

sorry getting a bit political

C

[Action_Man]

Just a little update, the mold(sp) seems to be sending out filaments with drops on the end, i suppose this is how its going spread ?, they grow so long that the weight makes them fall to the ground, in the hope they fall onto some food source ? .

Also i notice a little cup fungus around it ...

[CapAndBracket]

Found one that looks very similar today, when they ripen the outer wall will
crumble and the inner spore mass can blow away on the breeze, the threads
comming out of yours are possibly a secondary fungal infection, with the
tiny cup fungi included you have quite the interesting little group.
If mine mature ok i will try to do some microscopy on them for an ID and
post the results here.

Cheers J.P.

[Action_Man]

I think mine differ slightly to yours, in so much as there underneath a pile of wood, so there not open to the elements, and the spores cant disperse in the breeze. But besides habitat, they do look similar ...