Myxo on conifer

[chrisjohnson]

This white myxo was photographed yesterday on the cut limb of a dead, but standing, conifer. I have little knowledge of these and no literature. Can anything be made of it by way of an identification or does it need to mature?



The second image was taken at home this morning.



Now I have removed it from its substrate, is it likely to mature?

Thanks, Chris

[stickman]

Hi Chris

Sadly, I'd imagine it's too late for your myxo - they don't like being disturbed much...in fact, by removing it, you may have annoyed it enough for it to form a sclerotum (essentially a boring, dormant 'crust').

Sometimes you can take them home and it's possible to get them to sporulate but they have to be kept moist (in fresh springwater). They make poor pets as they are unpredictable and like to misbehave.

My other half has banned me from 'culturing' them after one broke free from a petri dish and crawled across the bookshelf.

Cheers,
Nick

[chrisjohnson]

Hi Nick

Nothing lost (or gained) by taking this one home as I will be unable to get back to the site for at least two weeks.

It was looking sad so I gave it a drink of tap water. It's responded by producing a tiny reddish volcano with another part being covered in very fine white 'hairs'. Whether this is part of the beast or a fungal growth - I don't know.

I'll try and get some more images later, then you can but me and 'it' out of misery.

Thanks, Chris

[chrisjohnson]

Hi Nick

As promised, another image. The growth looks fungal.

Thanks, Chris