Difficulties with one Trichiales

[Marja]

Hello,

I found these myxos on Sambucus bark:

They are about 0,3-2mm wide.
Microscophy:

The spores are about 9-12 and capillitium is 2-3 micrometers wide having some widenings (4-5) and including these yellow big vesicles (15-25) or something.
Could this be some Perichaena species?

Marja

[fairplay]

Hello Marja,

I only know a few Myxo's, but hopefully someone will be along soon to advise.

Neil.

[Lancashire Lad]

Hi Marja,

The large vesicle like structures shown in your photo are very intriguing - I've never seen them (and wasn't aware of such things in myxo's) before seeing your post.

I've had a good look through what literature I have, but have not managed to find anything useful.

So unfortunatey, I can't suggest any meaningful ID either.

Will continue to monitor this thread for any further input.

Regards,
Mike.

[stickman]

Hi Marja,

Could we have some more details of the capillitium ornamentation?

By the look of your photomicrograph, the vescicles seem to be attatched to the end of the capillitium - is this correct?

Hemitrichia (Arcyria) abietina is a species characterised by a yellow capillitium with very loose, faint, irregular spirals & often by bloated ends (although only to about 8 µm or so) But I may be taking you down the wrong path....

Cheers,
Nick

[Kevin Lawson]

Hello Marja,

Yes, I'm puzzled by this one as well.

The capillitium certainly suggests a Perichaena.

The only Myxomycete I know of with large vesicles in the capillitium isBrefeldia maxima - certainly not what you have!. Is it possible that the vesicles are not part of the myxomycete but some sort of contamination?

Regards,
Kevin

[Marja]

Hi folks,

thak you for your answers and interest. Something, that did not happen, when I took these to a fungal websides here in Finland. There are so few people here, who do myxos.

I had some microscophy photos and here are some details (500x because of the poor quality of my old russian):


The vesicles really seem to be at the ends of threads.

Contamination was one of my thoughts, too.
I only checked one, should try another and see if it has these too.
But then again there is Didymium serpula, which has vesicles.
I was happy to find it first time this autumn and suprised to find them two times more within a little over a week.
When some myxospecies "fruit", they do it the same time.

Marja

[stickman]

Originally Posted by Marja

Hi folks,

thak you for your answers and interest. Something, that did not happen, when I took these to a fungal websides here in Finland. There are so few people here, who do myxos.

I had some microscophy photos and here are some details (500x because of the poor quality of my old russian):


The vesicles really seem to be at the ends of threads.

Contamination was one of my thoughts, too.
I only checked one, should try another and see if it has these too.
But then again there is Didymium serpula, which has vesicles.
I was happy to find it first time this autumn and suprised to find them two times more within a little over a week.
When some myxospecies "fruit", they do it the same time.

Marja

Although there are certain points in the capillitium where I can almost see spirals - I think maybe my eyes are playing tricks on me....

I think that the 'vesicles' are likely to be algal cells.

Cheers,
Nick

[Marja]

Hi there,

I checked couple more and the vesicles seem to be in the middle of capillitium, too.
Actually they can even branch from vesicles, meaning that there are more than two branches from some.
Capillitium has swellings and spines and branches as I mentioned above.
It is not (Hemi-, Meta-) Trichia-like. I think this is a Perichaena (the other option is Arcyria without columnella?), but what?

I attach some photos later in the evening, when I'm at home.

Marja

[Marja]

Hello again,

I noticed, that I wrote about an Arcyria without columnella, as it usuallay is
Ment howerer without stalk. Having some difficulties when concentrating on both the language and facts.

Here's still one more photo of the strange vacuoles:

They can really branch.
Hopefully the spines of capillitium are visible enough

Is there any Perichaenas, which would fit without these vacuoles?

By the way I heard of a newish myxo book, Les myxomycetes.
Has anyone seen it? Is it worth the quite high price?

Curiously: Marja

[Lancashire Lad]

In this final photo, it looks like the green vacuole/vesicle is sitting on top of the capillital threads. They can be seen though it, and appear to be behind it.

Are you satisfied that the vesicles are definitely attached?
Did you find any that were free from the threads?

Looking at the initial photograph, there is much alga around the sporangia on the substrate, and I think that Nick may have been correct with the suggestion that these vesicles are actually algal cells, that have been included in the sample, and not part of the myxo itself.

The only Perichaena (of the ones found in Britain) that seems to have any similarity, is P.corticalis. The capillitial threads are very similar. - But your spore measurements from 9microns seem a little small, as P.corticalis spores are usually 11-13microns.

I am not sure if you find different species in Finland than we have in Britain.

A colleague who has seen a copy of the book (2 volumes) says it is very very good, with exceptional photography. (Although it is written in French, with only certain parts translated into English).
I have not seen the book myself, but there are reviews and details to be found on the internet by searching for:-
"myxomycetes guide to identification michel poulain".

Unfortunately, at well over £100.00 it is above my price range.

Regards,
Mike.