Unidentified myxo

[MattPrince]

Found this myxo on a piece of coniferous bark in Stover country park several weekends ago (had forgotten all about it in the "rust & mildew" toolbox!) attached is a picture of the ?sporangia? and a rather clumsy attempt at an image grab through the eyepiece of the compound at x600 (without staining which probably would have helped!)

The long filaments that looke like twisted rope were quite a startling revelation - I take it these are capillitium. Couldn't get a lot of detail on the spores but I'm thinking they are around the 1.4~1.6 micros size.

Apologies about the (as ever) poor quality of the grabs.. but would I be right in thinking along the lines of a hemetrichia species ?

Thanks for looking,

Matt

[MattPrince]

Sorry that should be 10~16 micros!

[Kevin Lawson]

Hello Matt,

Looks like Trichia varia to me.

The two coarse, lopsided spiral bands on the capillitium are characturistic of this species. Although usually sessile, fruit bodies with short dark stalks are not uncommon.

Regards,
Kevin

[MattPrince]

Thanks for that suggestion Kevin, I will have a look at that one.
What do you use for dye to increase definition under the compound?
I have to say I didnt expect much from a few drops of water on these old tired examples so i was blown away by the looping spirals.
Cheers,
Matt

[Lancashire Lad]

Originally Posted by MattPrince

....What do you use for dye to increase definition under the compound?.....

I'd be interested in any replies to this too.

Anyone out there using stains specifically with regards to myxo's?

Regards,
Mike.

[Kevin Lawson]

Matt/Mike

I don't use any stains - just distilled water

I find that details of spore ornamentation and capillitium are clearly visible with distilled water, especially under oil immersion

Also, the colour of spores in transmitted light is often an important diagnostic feature of some myxos - though not that easy to determine.

Regards,
Kevin

[Marja]

Hi folks,

I use nothing but water with myxos. Just that I use tap water...
I think, that anyone can distinguish the myxo spores and capillitium etc. from some other stuff in the water after seeing them a couple times.
I may be wrong, but that's how I do it.

I think, that besides of staining one should anyway still make a water preparate to get a view to real colour of details.
So, it is much easier just to use only water

Relaxing holidays to myxofans from Marja
Ps. I agree with some Trichia and T. varia is a good option without seeing the ends of capillitium.

[Lancashire Lad]

Thanks Kevin & Marja.

I thought that might be the case, but wondered whether there might be a useful stain for those hard to see capillitia and lime nodes on species such as Physarum album.

I've been using tap water as mountant.

Regards,
Mike.

[MattPrince]

Thanks all - very useful - I assumed you'd been using dyes to bring out the detail - as you are not - I'm doubly impressed by the clarity of other peoples photo's - at least in comparison to my gym-crack first attempt!

I'll have another look for the capitallum ends when I get back home on Thursday Marja - presumably I'm looking to see if they are conical and/or swollen. In any case, spore size seems to be in the right ball park for t. varia.

Cheers,
Matt

[Lancashire Lad]

Originally Posted by MattPrince

....I'll have another look for the capitallum ends when I get back home on Thursday Marja - presumably I'm looking to see if they are conical and/or swollen....

Hi Matt,

You can find some good information on individual species on the websites mentioned here:-
Unidentified Myxomycete

For example, if you click on the Trichia varia thumbnail in the Dalibor Matysek Gallery, you are presented with several further T.varia photos. A couple of which show the microscopic details of the capillitia.

There is always the caveat that information obtained via the internet needs to be treated with caution, but that is one of the few sites I do frequently use when trying to compare myxo's I find, along with descriptive literature etc.etc.

Regards,
Mike.