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Slo.: reslov cvet - Habitat: edge of former pasture; partly overgrown with Picea abies, Ostrya carpinifolia, Fagus sylvatica; slightly inclined mountain slope, southwest aspect, locally almost flat terrain, shallow, stony, calcareous ground; open, mostly sunny place; exposed to direct rain, average precipitations ~ 3.000 mm/year, average temperature 7 - 9 deg C, elevation 595 m (1.950 feet), alpine phytogeographical region. Temperatures from Oct. 11. to Oct. 19. were between 1 to 12 deg C, from Oct. 13. to Oct. 19. there were periods of very heavy rains. Substratum: on bark of a piece of cut down Picea abies trunk deposited on a pile of cut down Picea abies wood and branches; wood in its initial decomposition phase, mostly still in bark. Comments: This Myxomicete almost certainly belongs to genus Fuligo. The first measurement of its spores made on live material distinguished it from the most common species in this genus Fuligo septica. Fuligo septica has smaller spores, from 6 to 9 microns in diameter, while most of other species have spores larger than 10 microns in diameter. Also colors of either aethalium (fruiting body formed from all or most of the plasmodium), or of plasmodium (acellular, multinucleate mass of protoplasm, which crawls around, feeds and grows before it forms aethalium), or of inner lime (structure within spore mass of mature aethalium) of this observation fit perfectly to none of the five varieties of Fuligo septica described in Ref.:3 (namely: F.s. var. septica, F.s. var. flava, F.s. var. candida, F.s. var. rosea and F.s. var. rufa). Using the key of the genus Fuligo given in Ref.: 1 one comes straight to Fuligo intermedia Macbr., syn.: Fuligo cinerea var. ecorticata Lister. The measured average spore diameter and spore surface fit best, but not perfect, to this species (pertains to the first measurement of spores). But there are important differences from the descriptions of this species in the literature. For example, cortex (a more or less thick outer layer of an aethalium) is not thin as it should be. Hypothallus (a thin layer between the substrate and fruiting body) was membranous and of several layers (as it should be according to Ref.:1) but it was only locally white. Dominant colors were yellow and even red. According to literature the color of aethalium should be dirty white, pale gray or brownish. This was so only on a rather limited part of aethalium (see pictures 30-32 upper part of the aethalium). Aethalium was mostly black with partly deep reddish tint. The dried sample of the find has been analyzed at the Slovenian Forestry Institute by Mrs. Sanja Behri. Spores have been measured twice (on two sets of equipment). Significantly smaller average dimension (8.5-8.7 m and 8.8 m; n > 20) found. This fits well to Fuligo septica. However, the other observed discrepancies from this species remain. A most probable but unverified assumption is that very bad weather with low temperatures during the development of the aethalium caused unusual properties. The quite significant differences in the results of spore dimensions of all three measurements could be the consequence of an uneven development of spore mass in different parts of aethalium, which were analyzed. But this is only an assumption. Because of that a reliable determination of the find remains open. Spores minutely warted. Dimensions: 9.6 [10.2 ; 10.5] 11.1 x 8.4 [9.1 ; 9.4] 10.1 microns; Q = 1 [1.1] 1.2; N = 30; C = 95%; Me = 10.4 x 9.2 microns; Qe = 1.1. Olympus CH20, NEA 100x/1.25, magnification 1.000 x, oil (spores); NEA 40x/0.65, magnification 400x (all other pictures), in water; in vivo. AmScope MA500 digital camera. Herbarium: Mycotheca and lichen herbarium (LJU-Li) of Slovenian Forestry Institute, Vena pot 2, Ljubljana, Index Herbariorum LJF Ref.: (1) Personal communication with Mrs. dipl.biol. Sanja Behri, The Slovenian Forestry Institute, Ljubljana. (2) B. Ing, The Myxomycetes of Britain and Ireland, The Richmond Publ. Co.Ltd, (1999), p 244. (3) S.L. Stephenson and H. Stempen, Myxomycetes, Timber Press Inc.(2000), p 124. (4) M. Poulain, M. Meyer, J. Borronet, Les Myxomycetes, FMBDS (2011), Vol.1., p 392.
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Membranous expansions in the capillitium (black arrows) and a single spore still attached to the capillitium (red arrow). - Typical plates at the end of columellae can be seen also without microscopy at the ends of damaged sporangia (marked by arrows). - Habitat: old partly overgrown pasture, near mixed wood edge, moderately southeast inclined foot of a mountain; open, dry, sunny place; shallow, skeletal, calcareous ground, exposed to direct rain, average precipitations ~ 3.000 mm/year, average temperature 7-9 deg C, elevation 630 m (2.070 feet), alpine phytogeographical region. - Substratum: north side of a stump of Picea abies (on decorticated part) cut down three years ago. - Comment: Highly distinctive traits of Stemonitis flavogenita are typically zig-zag bent columella with a kind of plate at the end just before the end of sporangia (Ref.:1). It is not gradually tapering toward the end of sporocarp as with other species of genus Stemonitis. It is also distinguished by the presence of membranous expansions in the capillitium. Also agreement of macroscopic properties fit well to literature, so I hope the determination is correct. This observation may be interesting since this species is listed neither in Boletus Informaticus data base, Mycotheca and lichen herbarium (LJU-Li) of Slovenian Forestry Institute nor in official Slovenian fungi checklist. - Sporocarp color rusty, oac719; spores on mass chocolate brown, oac635. Stalks 2.5 to 3 mm long, total length of sporangia 9 mm, all of them were fairly the same length, very closely tufted, their tips blunt. The whole clump had 14 mm in diameter. - Spores finely warted, globose. Dimensions: 8,4 [8,8 ; 9] 9,5 x 8,2 [8,6 ; 8,7] 9,1 microns; Q = 1 [1,0] 1,1; N = 32; C = 95%; Me = 8,9 x 8,7 microns; Qe = 1. Olympus CH20, NEA 100x/1.25, magnification 1.000 x, oil (spores), NEA 10x/0.25, magnification 100x (all other pictures); in water. AmScope MA500 digital camera. - Herbarium: Mycotheca and lichen herbarium (LJU-Li) of Slovenian Forestry Institute, Vena pot 2, Ljubljana, Index Herbariorum LJF - Ref.: (1) B. Ing, The Myxomycetes of Britain and Ireland,The Richmond Publ. Co.Ltd, (1999), p 199. (2) S.L.Stephenson and H.Stempen, Myxomycetes, Timber Press Inc.(2000), p 153. (3) http://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20q?search=Stemonitis+flavogenita (4) http://www.myxomycetes.wolf-5.cyberdusk.pl/index.php?wyb=gal&rodzaj=Stemonitis&gat=1&foto=9 (6) http://www.myxomycetes.net/index.php (7) http://myxo.be/pdf/Stemonitis%20flavogenita%20Stemonitopsis%20peritricha%20Intermediaire.pdf (8) https://www.bookiejar.com/Content/Books/7ccbe2a1-12a9-41fa-a3ff-0f8ebaf40ef6/3339_r1/31098/www.gutenberg.org@dirs@3@1@0@9@31098@31098-h@31098-h-7.htm#Page_154 (9) https://www.shitennoji.ac.jp/ibu/images/toshokan/kiyo45-15.pdf
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Slo.: reslov cvet - syn. Mucorsepticus L., Reticularia septica (L.) With., Aethalium septicum (L.) Fr., Fuligo varians Sommerf. - Spores at magnification 1000x. Sample taken on July 23. 2014. (Fig. 1M). - Habitat: old partly tree overgrown pasture, near mixed wood edge; moderately southeast inclined foot of an old overgrown scree slope; open, dry, sunny place; shallow, skeletal, calcareous ground, exposed to direct rain, average precipitations ~ 3.000 mm/year, average temperature 7-9 deg C, elevation 630 m (2.070 feet), alpine phytogeographical region. - Substratum: a stump of Picea abies cut down three years ago. - Comment: Myxomycetes are poorly known yet very interesting creatures. For decades they have been shuffled back and forth between the animal and plants kingdoms until recognized as separate creatures. They are not animals because they proliferate by spores. They are also not plants since they crumble around (an animal like ability) and fix themselves firmly to substrate only at the end of their life cycle. They don't produce their own food like plants but feed by 'hunting' (actually engulfing) bacteria and tiny bits of other organic matter, which is another animal like feature. The first stage in their development cycle, which is observable in the field, is called plasmodium. Earlier stages (from myxoflagellates, myxoamoebae, to zygote) are microscopic and can be observed only in labs. Plasmodium is a single giant living cell, a clump of protoplasm filled with thousands of cell nuclei, crawling around, eating bacteria and growing. Some of such plasmodia are the largest cells of living creatures known. In some species they can measure several meters across or weight up to 20 kg. That it much larger than ostrich's eggs, which are popularly considered as 'largest living cells'! Plasmodia could be found in the field, some are even brightly colored and easy to spot; however, it is almost impossible to determine to which species they belong. Plasmodium of Fuligo septica is commonly described like disgusting mucus, spilled scrambled eggs, dogs vomiting and other 'benevolent' portrayals. - When the time is right or delicate environmental conditions required for growth worsen plasmodia eventually evolves (usually almost completely) into sporocarps of different forms. These are bodies producing spores and then vanishing. In genus Fuligo sporocarp is a cushion like aethalium sitting on a thin whitish, 'fibrous' layer called hypothallus (Fig.14.). These'cushions' are what one usually finds in the field. But, other Myxomycetes develop also many other forms of sporocarps full of beauty, delicacy and imagination. Aethalia of Fuligo septica are usually covered with a kind of crust called cortex, which is brittle and soon crumbles away. In humid conditions it may not fully develop (Ref.1). Inside a mature aethalium there is a mesh of thin tubes or fibers called capillitium and zillions of dark brown spores. Fuligo septica has characteristic nodes on capillitial tubes, which are clearly seen on Fig. 4M. In due course the aethalium decomposes almost entirely into spore mass (Fig.17., 18.), which are sooner or later blown or washed away (Fig.20. taken about three weeks after the first photo). Size and shape of spores and structure of their surface are important traits for species determination. - Cushion-shaped aethalium measured approximately 14 x 5 cm and was about 3 cm thick. Spores are minutely warty and globose to subglobose. Dimensions: 8 [8,4 ; 8,7] 9,1 x 7,4 [8 ; 8,2] 8,7 microns; Q = [1 ; 1,07] 1,1; N = 25; C = 95%; Me = 8,5 x 8,1 microns; Qe = 1,05. Olympus CH20, NEA 100x/1.25, magnification 1.000 x, oil (spores), NEA 40x/0.65, magnification 400x (capillitium), NEA 10x/0.25, magnification 100x (hypothallus); in water, living material. AmScope MA500 digital camera. Spore sample taken on July 23. 2014. - Herbarium: Mycotheca and lichen herbarium (LJU-Li) of Slovenian Forestry Institute, Vena pot 2, Ljubljana, Index Herbariorum LJF - Ref.: (1) B. Ing, The Myxomycetes of Britain and Ireland, The Richmond Publ. Co.Ltd, (1999), p 246 (2) S.L.Stephenson and H.Stempen, Myxomycetes, Timber Press Inc.(2000), p123. (3) http://www.hiddenforest.co.nz/slime/family/physaraceae/physa02.htm (4) M. Poulain, M. Meyer, J. Bozzonet, Les Myxomycetes, FMBDS (2011), Vol.1., p128; Vol.2., p168.
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Slo.: ?? - Syn.: Fuligo septica var. leavis - Habitat: Mixed mountain forest, dominant Picea abies and Fagus sylvatica, south oriented slope, warm place, calcareous bedrock, mostly in shade, partly protected from direct rain by tree canopies, average precipitation ~ 3.000 mm/year, average temperature 4-6 deg C, elevation 1.200 m (4.400 feet), alpine phytogeographical region. - Substratum: Dry, still intact bark of a recently wind fallen Picea abies, about 60 cm (2 feet) above ground. - Comment: Info on F. laevis on internet is sparse and somewhat confusing. However, because of unevenly colored spores (see arrows on the picture of spores) and generally good fit to the key in Ref.:(1) I decided for F. laevis. Yet, this would need an expert opinion. Three aethalia present of diameter 2-3.5 cm (0.8-1.4 inch) and ~1.5 cm (0.6 inch) thickness. SP chocolate brown, oac637 (The Online Auction Color Chart); cortex whitish, oac900, thin, shiny, fragile. Hypothallus white, shiny, thin, inconspicuous. - Note: Unevenly colored spores with lighter areas (arrows). Comparison of measured spore dimensions and data from literature for Fuligo laevis and Enteridium lycoperdon (an alternative). - Spores globose to subglobose, verruculose, paler on one side; dimensions: 7.7 (SD = 0.4) x 7.1 (SD = 0.3) micr., Q = 1.09 (SD = 0.06), n = 30. Motic B2-211A, magnification 1.000 x, oil, in water. - Ref.: (1) B. Ing, The Myxomycetes of Britain and Ireland,The Richmond Publ. Co.Ltd, (1999), p 241. (8-90 za Enteridium lycoperdon) (2) S.L.Stephenson and H.Stempen, Myxomycetes, Timber Press Inc.(2000), p 123. (3) http://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20q?search=Fuligo+laevis 7-9 (4) http://www.hotfreebooks.com/book/The-North-American-Slime-Moulds-Thomas-H-Thomas-Huston-MacBride.html ------- for Enteridium lycoperdon: (5) http://champyves.pagesperso-orange.fr/champignons/fichier_htm/autres/Enteridium_lycoperdon. (6) http://www.fotofunghi.it/pages/fungi/enteridium_lycoperdon.htm (7) http://www.marn.at/baumpilze/reticularia-lycoperdon.html (8) http://zipcodezoo.com/protozoa/r/reticularia_lycoperdon_var._lycoperdon/ - Key to the Order: Ref.:(1) B. Ing, The Myxomycetes of Britain and Ireland,The Richmond Publ. Co.Ltd, (1999), p 10.
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Syn.: Arcyria nutans (Bull) Grev - Habitat: Overgrown former grassland; dominant trees Ailanthus altissima, Fraxinus ornus, Corylus avellana, Fagus sylvatica, Juglans regia, Tilia sp., Prunus domestica; next to an abandoned farmhouse; flat terrain, calcareous ground; full shade, quite humid and relatively warm place, partly protected from direct rain by tree canopies; average precipitation ~ 3.000 mm/year, average temperature 7-9 deg C, elevation 590 m (1.950 feet), alpine phytogeographical region. - Substratum: vertical surface of dead, still standing trunk of Juglans regia partly still in bark fully covered by a Polyporaceae, probably Inonotus sp.; about 1 m (three feet) above ground, northeast oriented surface of the trunk. - Comment: Long, hanging and very shortly stipitate sporocarps distinguish this species from others in Myxomycetes genus Arcyria. Sporocarps 8 - 13 mm long, about 1 mm diameter, flexible. Stalk very short, hard to observe, almost sessile sporocarps; sporocarps ocher-yellow, oac848; SP abundant, ocher-yellow, oac 856. - Spores subglobose and almost smooth, scattered warts hardly visible with my equipment. Dimensions: 8.7 (SD = 0.3) x 8.3 (SD = 0,2) μ, Q = 1.05 (SD = 0.02), n = 30. Olympus CH20, NEA 100x/1.25, magnification 1.000 x, oil, (picture of spores and capillitium threads). Bausch & Lomb 4/0.10, magnification 40x, in water (picture of capillitium). AmScope MA500 digital camera. - Ref.: (1) B. Ing, The Myxomycetes of Britain and Ireland, The Richmond Publ. Co.Ltd, (1999), p 113. (2) http://www.bcrc.firdi.org.tw/fungi/fungal_detail.jsp?id=FU200802090023 (3) http//hiddenforest.co.nz/slime/family/arcyriaceae/arcyr03.htm
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Slo.: reslov cvet - Habitat: edge of former pasture; partly overgrown with Picea abies, Ostrya carpinifolia, Fagus sylvatica; slightly inclined mountain slope, southwest aspect, locally almost flat terrain, shallow, stony, calcareous ground; open, mostly sunny place; exposed to direct rain, average precipitations ~ 3.000 mm/year, average temperature 7 - 9 deg C, elevation 595 m (1.950 feet), alpine phytogeographical region. Temperatures from Oct. 11. to Oct. 19. were between 1 to 12 deg C, from Oct. 13. to Oct. 19. there were periods of very heavy rains. Substratum: on bark of a piece of cut down Picea abies trunk deposited on a pile of cut down Picea abies wood and branches; wood in its initial decomposition phase, mostly still in bark. Comments: This Myxomicete almost certainly belongs to genus Fuligo. The first measurement of its spores made on live material distinguished it from the most common species in this genus Fuligo septica. Fuligo septica has smaller spores, from 6 to 9 microns in diameter, while most of other species have spores larger than 10 microns in diameter. Also colors of either aethalium (fruiting body formed from all or most of the plasmodium), or of plasmodium (acellular, multinucleate mass of protoplasm, which crawls around, feeds and grows before it forms aethalium), or of inner lime (structure within spore mass of mature aethalium) of this observation fit perfectly to none of the five varieties of Fuligo septica described in Ref.:3 (namely: F.s. var. septica, F.s. var. flava, F.s. var. candida, F.s. var. rosea and F.s. var. rufa). Using the key of the genus Fuligo given in Ref.: 1 one comes straight to Fuligo intermedia Macbr., syn.: Fuligo cinerea var. ecorticata Lister. The measured average spore diameter and spore surface fit best, but not perfect, to this species (pertains to the first measurement of spores). But there are important differences from the descriptions of this species in the literature. For example, cortex (a more or less thick outer layer of an aethalium) is not thin as it should be. Hypothallus (a thin layer between the substrate and fruiting body) was membranous and of several layers (as it should be according to Ref.:1) but it was only locally white. Dominant colors were yellow and even red. According to literature the color of aethalium should be dirty white, pale gray or brownish. This was so only on a rather limited part of aethalium (see pictures 30-32 upper part of the aethalium). Aethalium was mostly black with partly deep reddish tint. The dried sample of the find has been analyzed at the Slovenian Forestry Institute by Mrs. Sanja Behri. Spores have been measured twice (on two sets of equipment). Significantly smaller average dimension (8.5-8.7 m and 8.8 m; n > 20) found. This fits well to Fuligo septica. However, the other observed discrepancies from this species remain. A most probable but unverified assumption is that very bad weather with low temperatures during the development of the aethalium caused unusual properties. The quite significant differences in the results of spore dimensions of all three measurements could be the consequence of an uneven development of spore mass in different parts of aethalium, which were analyzed. But this is only an assumption. Because of that a reliable determination of the find remains open. Spores minutely warted. Dimensions: 9.6 [10.2 ; 10.5] 11.1 x 8.4 [9.1 ; 9.4] 10.1 microns; Q = 1 [1.1] 1.2; N = 30; C = 95%; Me = 10.4 x 9.2 microns; Qe = 1.1. Olympus CH20, NEA 100x/1.25, magnification 1.000 x, oil (spores); NEA 40x/0.65, magnification 400x (all other pictures), in water; in vivo. AmScope MA500 digital camera. Herbarium: Mycotheca and lichen herbarium (LJU-Li) of Slovenian Forestry Institute, Vena pot 2, Ljubljana, Index Herbariorum LJF Ref.: (1) Personal communication with Mrs. dipl.biol. Sanja Behri, The Slovenian Forestry Institute, Ljubljana. (2) B. Ing, The Myxomycetes of Britain and Ireland, The Richmond Publ. Co.Ltd, (1999), p 244. (3) S.L. Stephenson and H. Stempen, Myxomycetes, Timber Press Inc.(2000), p 124. (4) M. Poulain, M. Meyer, J. Borronet, Les Myxomycetes, FMBDS (2011), Vol.1., p 392.
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Zig-zag bending of the columella near and the small plate at its end. Capillitium is damaged and misplaced. - Typical plates at the end of columellae can be seen also without microscopy at the ends of damaged sporangia (marked by arrows). - Habitat: old partly overgrown pasture, near mixed wood edge, moderately southeast inclined foot of a mountain; open, dry, sunny place; shallow, skeletal, calcareous ground, exposed to direct rain, average precipitations ~ 3.000 mm/year, average temperature 7-9 deg C, elevation 630 m (2.070 feet), alpine phytogeographical region. - Substratum: north side of a stump of Picea abies (on decorticated part) cut down three years ago. - Comment: Highly distinctive traits of Stemonitis flavogenita are typically zig-zag bent columella with a kind of plate at the end just before the end of sporangia (Ref.:1). It is not gradually tapering toward the end of sporocarp as with other species of genus Stemonitis. It is also distinguished by the presence of membranous expansions in the capillitium. Also agreement of macroscopic properties fit well to literature, so I hope the determination is correct. This observation may be interesting since this species is listed neither in Boletus Informaticus data base, Mycotheca and lichen herbarium (LJU-Li) of Slovenian Forestry Institute nor in official Slovenian fungi checklist. - Sporocarp color rusty, oac719; spores on mass chocolate brown, oac635. Stalks 2.5 to 3 mm long, total length of sporangia 9 mm, all of them were fairly the same length, very closely tufted, their tips blunt. The whole clump had 14 mm in diameter. - Spores finely warted, globose. Dimensions: 8,4 [8,8 ; 9] 9,5 x 8,2 [8,6 ; 8,7] 9,1 microns; Q = 1 [1,0] 1,1; N = 32; C = 95%; Me = 8,9 x 8,7 microns; Qe = 1. Olympus CH20, NEA 100x/1.25, magnification 1.000 x, oil (spores), NEA 10x/0.25, magnification 100x (all other pictures); in water. AmScope MA500 digital camera. - Herbarium: Mycotheca and lichen herbarium (LJU-Li) of Slovenian Forestry Institute, Vena pot 2, Ljubljana, Index Herbariorum LJF - Ref.: (1) B. Ing, The Myxomycetes of Britain and Ireland,The Richmond Publ. Co.Ltd, (1999), p 199. (2) S.L.Stephenson and H.Stempen, Myxomycetes, Timber Press Inc.(2000), p 153. (3) http://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20q?search=Stemonitis+flavogenita (4) http://www.myxomycetes.wolf-5.cyberdusk.pl/index.php?wyb=gal&rodzaj=Stemonitis&gat=1&foto=9 (6) http://www.myxomycetes.net/index.php (7) http://myxo.be/pdf/Stemonitis%20flavogenita%20Stemonitopsis%20peritricha%20Intermediaire.pdf (8) https://www.bookiejar.com/Content/Books/7ccbe2a1-12a9-41fa-a3ff-0f8ebaf40ef6/3339_r1/31098/www.gutenberg.org@dirs@3@1@0@9@31098@31098-h@31098-h-7.htm#Page_154 (9) https://www.shitennoji.ac.jp/ibu/images/toshokan/kiyo45-15.pdf
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Slo.: reslov cvet - syn. Mucorsepticus L., Reticularia septica (L.) With., Aethalium septicum (L.) Fr., Fuligo varians Sommerf. - Spore statistics and comparison with data from literature. (Fig. 2M). - Habitat: old partly tree overgrown pasture, near mixed wood edge; moderately southeast inclined foot of an old overgrown scree slope; open, dry, sunny place; shallow, skeletal, calcareous ground, exposed to direct rain, average precipitations ~ 3.000 mm/year, average temperature 7-9 deg C, elevation 630 m (2.070 feet), alpine phytogeographical region. - Substratum: a stump of Picea abies cut down three years ago. - Comment: Myxomycetes are poorly known yet very interesting creatures. For decades they have been shuffled back and forth between the animal and plants kingdoms until recognized as separate creatures. They are not animals because they proliferate by spores. They are also not plants since they crumble around (an animal like ability) and fix themselves firmly to substrate only at the end of their life cycle. They don't produce their own food like plants but feed by 'hunting' (actually engulfing) bacteria and tiny bits of other organic matter, which is another animal like feature. The first stage in their development cycle, which is observable in the field, is called plasmodium. Earlier stages (from myxoflagellates, myxoamoebae, to zygote) are microscopic and can be observed only in labs. Plasmodium is a single giant living cell, a clump of protoplasm filled with thousands of cell nuclei, crawling around, eating bacteria and growing. Some of such plasmodia are the largest cells of living creatures known. In some species they can measure several meters across or weight up to 20 kg. That it much larger than ostrich's eggs, which are popularly considered as 'largest living cells'! Plasmodia could be found in the field, some are even brightly colored and easy to spot; however, it is almost impossible to determine to which species they belong. Plasmodium of Fuligo septica is commonly described like disgusting mucus, spilled scrambled eggs, dogs vomiting and other 'benevolent' portrayals. - When the time is right or delicate environmental conditions required for growth worsen plasmodia eventually evolves (usually almost completely) into sporocarps of different forms. These are bodies producing spores and then vanishing. In genus Fuligo sporocarp is a cushion like aethalium sitting on a thin whitish, 'fibrous' layer called hypothallus (Fig.14.). These'cushions' are what one usually finds in the field. But, other Myxomycetes develop also many other forms of sporocarps full of beauty, delicacy and imagination. Aethalia of Fuligo septica are usually covered with a kind of crust called cortex, which is brittle and soon crumbles away. In humid conditions it may not fully develop (Ref.1). Inside a mature aethalium there is a mesh of thin tubes or fibers called capillitium and zillions of dark brown spores. Fuligo septica has characteristic nodes on capillitial tubes, which are clearly seen on Fig. 4M. In due course the aethalium decomposes almost entirely into spore mass (Fig.17., 18.), which are sooner or later blown or washed away (Fig.20. taken about three weeks after the first photo). Size and shape of spores and structure of their surface are important traits for species determination. - Cushion-shaped aethalium measured approximately 14 x 5 cm and was about 3 cm thick. Spores are minutely warty and globose to subglobose. Dimensions: 8 [8,4 ; 8,7] 9,1 x 7,4 [8 ; 8,2] 8,7 microns; Q = [1 ; 1,07] 1,1; N = 25; C = 95%; Me = 8,5 x 8,1 microns; Qe = 1,05. Olympus CH20, NEA 100x/1.25, magnification 1.000 x, oil (spores), NEA 40x/0.65, magnification 400x (capillitium), NEA 10x/0.25, magnification 100x (hypothallus); in water, living material. AmScope MA500 digital camera. Spore sample taken on July 23. 2014. - Herbarium: Mycotheca and lichen herbarium (LJU-Li) of Slovenian Forestry Institute, Vena pot 2, Ljubljana, Index Herbariorum LJF - Ref.: (1) B. Ing, The Myxomycetes of Britain and Ireland, The Richmond Publ. Co.Ltd, (1999), p 246 (2) S.L.Stephenson and H.Stempen, Myxomycetes, Timber Press Inc.(2000), p123. (3) http://www.hiddenforest.co.nz/slime/family/physaraceae/physa02.htm (4) M. Poulain, M. Meyer, J. Bozzonet, Les Myxomycetes, FMBDS (2011), Vol.1., p128; Vol.2., p168.
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Slo.: ?? - Syn.: Fuligo septica var. leavis - Habitat: Mixed mountain forest, dominant Picea abies and Fagus sylvatica, south oriented slope, warm place, calcareous bedrock, mostly in shade, partly protected from direct rain by tree canopies, average precipitation ~ 3.000 mm/year, average temperature 4-6 deg C, elevation 1.200 m (4.400 feet), alpine phytogeographical region. - Substratum: Dry, still intact bark of a recently wind fallen Picea abies, about 60 cm (2 feet) above ground. - Comment: Info on F. laevis on internet is sparse and somewhat confusing. However, because of unevenly colored spores (see arrows on the picture of spores) and generally good fit to the key in Ref.:(1) I decided for F. laevis. Yet, this would need an expert opinion. Three aethalia present of diameter 2-3.5 cm (0.8-1.4 inch) and ~1.5 cm (0.6 inch) thickness. SP chocolate brown, oac637 (The Online Auction Color Chart); cortex whitish, oac900, thin, shiny, fragile. Hypothallus white, shiny, thin, inconspicuous. - Note: Unevenly colored spores with lighter areas (arrows). Comparison of measured spore dimensions and data from literature for Fuligo laevis and Enteridium lycoperdon (an alternative). - Spores globose to subglobose, verruculose, paler on one side; dimensions: 7.7 (SD = 0.4) x 7.1 (SD = 0.3) micr., Q = 1.09 (SD = 0.06), n = 30. Motic B2-211A, magnification 1.000 x, oil, in water. - Ref.: (1) B. Ing, The Myxomycetes of Britain and Ireland,The Richmond Publ. Co.Ltd, (1999), p 241. (8-90 za Enteridium lycoperdon) (2) S.L.Stephenson and H.Stempen, Myxomycetes, Timber Press Inc.(2000), p 123. (3) http://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20q?search=Fuligo+laevis 7-9 (4) http://www.hotfreebooks.com/book/The-North-American-Slime-Moulds-Thomas-H-Thomas-Huston-MacBride.html ------- for Enteridium lycoperdon: (5) http://champyves.pagesperso-orange.fr/champignons/fichier_htm/autres/Enteridium_lycoperdon. (6) http://www.fotofunghi.it/pages/fungi/enteridium_lycoperdon.htm (7) http://www.marn.at/baumpilze/reticularia-lycoperdon.html (8) http://zipcodezoo.com/protozoa/r/reticularia_lycoperdon_var._lycoperdon/ - Key to the Order: Ref.:(1) B. Ing, The Myxomycetes of Britain and Ireland,The Richmond Publ. Co.Ltd, (1999), p 10.
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Syn.: Arcyria nutans (Bull) Grev - Habitat: Overgrown former grassland; dominant trees Ailanthus altissima, Fraxinus ornus, Corylus avellana, Fagus sylvatica, Juglans regia, Tilia sp., Prunus domestica; next to an abandoned farmhouse; flat terrain, calcareous ground; full shade, quite humid and relatively warm place, partly protected from direct rain by tree canopies; average precipitation ~ 3.000 mm/year, average temperature 7-9 deg C, elevation 590 m (1.950 feet), alpine phytogeographical region. - Substratum: vertical surface of dead, still standing trunk of Juglans regia partly still in bark fully covered by a Polyporaceae, probably Inonotus sp.; about 1 m (three feet) above ground, northeast oriented surface of the trunk. - Comment: Long, hanging and very shortly stipitate sporocarps distinguish this species from others in Myxomycetes genus Arcyria. Sporocarps 8 - 13 mm long, about 1 mm diameter, flexible. Stalk very short, hard to observe, almost sessile sporocarps; sporocarps ocher-yellow, oac848; SP abundant, ocher-yellow, oac 856. - Spores subglobose and almost smooth, scattered warts hardly visible with my equipment. Dimensions: 8.7 (SD = 0.3) x 8.3 (SD = 0,2) μ, Q = 1.05 (SD = 0.02), n = 30. Olympus CH20, NEA 100x/1.25, magnification 1.000 x, oil, (picture of spores and capillitium threads). Bausch & Lomb 4/0.10, magnification 40x, in water (picture of capillitium). AmScope MA500 digital camera. - Ref.: (1) B. Ing, The Myxomycetes of Britain and Ireland, The Richmond Publ. Co.Ltd, (1999), p 113. (2) http://www.bcrc.firdi.org.tw/fungi/fungal_detail.jsp?id=FU200802090023 (3) http//hiddenforest.co.nz/slime/family/arcyriaceae/arcyr03.htm
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Slo.: reslov cvet - Habitat: edge of former pasture; partly overgrown with Picea abies, Ostrya carpinifolia, Fagus sylvatica; slightly inclined mountain slope, southwest aspect, locally almost flat terrain, shallow, stony, calcareous ground; open, mostly sunny place; exposed to direct rain, average precipitations ~ 3.000 mm/year, average temperature 7 - 9 deg C, elevation 595 m (1.950 feet), alpine phytogeographical region. Temperatures from Oct. 11. to Oct. 19. were between 1 to 12 deg C, from Oct. 13. to Oct. 19. there were periods of very heavy rains. Substratum: on bark of a piece of cut down Picea abies trunk deposited on a pile of cut down Picea abies wood and branches; wood in its initial decomposition phase, mostly still in bark. Comments: This Myxomicete almost certainly belongs to genus Fuligo. The first measurement of its spores made on live material distinguished it from the most common species in this genus Fuligo septica. Fuligo septica has smaller spores, from 6 to 9 microns in diameter, while most of other species have spores larger than 10 microns in diameter. Also colors of either aethalium (fruiting body formed from all or most of the plasmodium), or of plasmodium (acellular, multinucleate mass of protoplasm, which crawls around, feeds and grows before it forms aethalium), or of inner lime (structure within spore mass of mature aethalium) of this observation fit perfectly to none of the five varieties of Fuligo septica described in Ref.:3 (namely: F.s. var. septica, F.s. var. flava, F.s. var. candida, F.s. var. rosea and F.s. var. rufa). Using the key of the genus Fuligo given in Ref.: 1 one comes straight to Fuligo intermedia Macbr., syn.: Fuligo cinerea var. ecorticata Lister. The measured average spore diameter and spore surface fit best, but not perfect, to this species (pertains to the first measurement of spores). But there are important differences from the descriptions of this species in the literature. For example, cortex (a more or less thick outer layer of an aethalium) is not thin as it should be. Hypothallus (a thin layer between the substrate and fruiting body) was membranous and of several layers (as it should be according to Ref.:1) but it was only locally white. Dominant colors were yellow and even red. According to literature the color of aethalium should be dirty white, pale gray or brownish. This was so only on a rather limited part of aethalium (see pictures 30-32 upper part of the aethalium). Aethalium was mostly black with partly deep reddish tint. The dried sample of the find has been analyzed at the Slovenian Forestry Institute by Mrs. Sanja Behri. Spores have been measured twice (on two sets of equipment). Significantly smaller average dimension (8.5-8.7 m and 8.8 m; n > 20) found. This fits well to Fuligo septica. However, the other observed discrepancies from this species remain. A most probable but unverified assumption is that very bad weather with low temperatures during the development of the aethalium caused unusual properties. The quite significant differences in the results of spore dimensions of all three measurements could be the consequence of an uneven development of spore mass in different parts of aethalium, which were analyzed. But this is only an assumption. Because of that a reliable determination of the find remains open. Spores minutely warted. Dimensions: 9.6 [10.2 ; 10.5] 11.1 x 8.4 [9.1 ; 9.4] 10.1 microns; Q = 1 [1.1] 1.2; N = 30; C = 95%; Me = 10.4 x 9.2 microns; Qe = 1.1. Olympus CH20, NEA 100x/1.25, magnification 1.000 x, oil (spores); NEA 40x/0.65, magnification 400x (all other pictures), in water; in vivo. AmScope MA500 digital camera. Herbarium: Mycotheca and lichen herbarium (LJU-Li) of Slovenian Forestry Institute, Vena pot 2, Ljubljana, Index Herbariorum LJF Ref.: (1) Personal communication with Mrs. dipl.biol. Sanja Behri, The Slovenian Forestry Institute, Ljubljana. (2) B. Ing, The Myxomycetes of Britain and Ireland, The Richmond Publ. Co.Ltd, (1999), p 244. (3) S.L. Stephenson and H. Stempen, Myxomycetes, Timber Press Inc.(2000), p 124. (4) M. Poulain, M. Meyer, J. Borronet, Les Myxomycetes, FMBDS (2011), Vol.1., p 392.
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Hypothallus at the base of the stalk of sporocarp. - Typical plates at the end of columellae can be seen also without microscopy at the ends of damaged sporangia (marked by arrows). - Habitat: old partly overgrown pasture, near mixed wood edge, moderately southeast inclined foot of a mountain; open, dry, sunny place; shallow, skeletal, calcareous ground, exposed to direct rain, average precipitations ~ 3.000 mm/year, average temperature 7-9 deg C, elevation 630 m (2.070 feet), alpine phytogeographical region. - Substratum: north side of a stump of Picea abies (on decorticated part) cut down three years ago. - Comment: Highly distinctive traits of Stemonitis flavogenita are typically zig-zag bent columella with a kind of plate at the end just before the end of sporangia (Ref.:1). It is not gradually tapering toward the end of sporocarp as with other species of genus Stemonitis. It is also distinguished by the presence of membranous expansions in the capillitium. Also agreement of macroscopic properties fit well to literature, so I hope the determination is correct. This observation may be interesting since this species is listed neither in Boletus Informaticus data base, Mycotheca and lichen herbarium (LJU-Li) of Slovenian Forestry Institute nor in official Slovenian fungi checklist. - Sporocarp color rusty, oac719; spores on mass chocolate brown, oac635. Stalks 2.5 to 3 mm long, total length of sporangia 9 mm, all of them were fairly the same length, very closely tufted, their tips blunt. The whole clump had 14 mm in diameter. - Spores finely warted, globose. Dimensions: 8,4 [8,8 ; 9] 9,5 x 8,2 [8,6 ; 8,7] 9,1 microns; Q = 1 [1,0] 1,1; N = 32; C = 95%; Me = 8,9 x 8,7 microns; Qe = 1. Olympus CH20, NEA 100x/1.25, magnification 1.000 x, oil (spores), NEA 10x/0.25, magnification 100x (all other pictures); in water. AmScope MA500 digital camera. - Herbarium: Mycotheca and lichen herbarium (LJU-Li) of Slovenian Forestry Institute, Vena pot 2, Ljubljana, Index Herbariorum LJF - Ref.: (1) B. Ing, The Myxomycetes of Britain and Ireland,The Richmond Publ. Co.Ltd, (1999), p 199. (2) S.L.Stephenson and H.Stempen, Myxomycetes, Timber Press Inc.(2000), p 153. (3) http://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20q?search=Stemonitis+flavogenita (4) http://www.myxomycetes.wolf-5.cyberdusk.pl/index.php?wyb=gal&rodzaj=Stemonitis&gat=1&foto=9 (6) http://www.myxomycetes.net/index.php (7) http://myxo.be/pdf/Stemonitis%20flavogenita%20Stemonitopsis%20peritricha%20Intermediaire.pdf (8) https://www.bookiejar.com/Content/Books/7ccbe2a1-12a9-41fa-a3ff-0f8ebaf40ef6/3339_r1/31098/www.gutenberg.org@dirs@3@1@0@9@31098@31098-h@31098-h-7.htm#Page_154 (9) https://www.shitennoji.ac.jp/ibu/images/toshokan/kiyo45-15.pdf
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Slo.: reslov cvet - syn. Mucorsepticus L., Reticularia septica (L.) With., Aethalium septicum (L.) Fr., Fuligo varians Sommerf. - Hypothallus at magnification 100x. (Fig. 3M). - Habitat: old partly tree overgrown pasture, near mixed wood edge; moderately southeast inclined foot of an old overgrown scree slope; open, dry, sunny place; shallow, skeletal, calcareous ground, exposed to direct rain, average precipitations ~ 3.000 mm/year, average temperature 7-9 deg C, elevation 630 m (2.070 feet), alpine phytogeographical region. - Substratum: a stump of Picea abies cut down three years ago. - Comment: Myxomycetes are poorly known yet very interesting creatures. For decades they have been shuffled back and forth between the animal and plants kingdoms until recognized as separate creatures. They are not animals because they proliferate by spores. They are also not plants since they crumble around (an animal like ability) and fix themselves firmly to substrate only at the end of their life cycle. They don't produce their own food like plants but feed by 'hunting' (actually engulfing) bacteria and tiny bits of other organic matter, which is another animal like feature. The first stage in their development cycle, which is observable in the field, is called plasmodium. Earlier stages (from myxoflagellates, myxoamoebae, to zygote) are microscopic and can be observed only in labs. Plasmodium is a single giant living cell, a clump of protoplasm filled with thousands of cell nuclei, crawling around, eating bacteria and growing. Some of such plasmodia are the largest cells of living creatures known. In some species they can measure several meters across or weight up to 20 kg. That it much larger than ostrich's eggs, which are popularly considered as 'largest living cells'! Plasmodia could be found in the field, some are even brightly colored and easy to spot; however, it is almost impossible to determine to which species they belong. Plasmodium of Fuligo septica is commonly described like disgusting mucus, spilled scrambled eggs, dogs vomiting and other 'benevolent' portrayals. - When the time is right or delicate environmental conditions required for growth worsen plasmodia eventually evolves (usually almost completely) into sporocarps of different forms. These are bodies producing spores and then vanishing. In genus Fuligo sporocarp is a cushion like aethalium sitting on a thin whitish, 'fibrous' layer called hypothallus (Fig.14.). These'cushions' are what one usually finds in the field. But, other Myxomycetes develop also many other forms of sporocarps full of beauty, delicacy and imagination. Aethalia of Fuligo septica are usually covered with a kind of crust called cortex, which is brittle and soon crumbles away. In humid conditions it may not fully develop (Ref.1). Inside a mature aethalium there is a mesh of thin tubes or fibers called capillitium and zillions of dark brown spores. Fuligo septica has characteristic nodes on capillitial tubes, which are clearly seen on Fig. 4M. In due course the aethalium decomposes almost entirely into spore mass (Fig.17., 18.), which are sooner or later blown or washed away (Fig.20. taken about three weeks after the first photo). Size and shape of spores and structure of their surface are important traits for species determination. - Cushion-shaped aethalium measured approximately 14 x 5 cm and was about 3 cm thick. Spores are minutely warty and globose to subglobose. Dimensions: 8 [8,4 ; 8,7] 9,1 x 7,4 [8 ; 8,2] 8,7 microns; Q = [1 ; 1,07] 1,1; N = 25; C = 95%; Me = 8,5 x 8,1 microns; Qe = 1,05. Olympus CH20, NEA 100x/1.25, magnification 1.000 x, oil (spores), NEA 40x/0.65, magnification 400x (capillitium), NEA 10x/0.25, magnification 100x (hypothallus); in water, living material. AmScope MA500 digital camera. Spore sample taken on July 23. 2014. - Herbarium: Mycotheca and lichen herbarium (LJU-Li) of Slovenian Forestry Institute, Vena pot 2, Ljubljana, Index Herbariorum LJF - Ref.: (1) B. Ing, The Myxomycetes of Britain and Ireland, The Richmond Publ. Co.Ltd, (1999), p 246 (2) S.L.Stephenson and H.Stempen, Myxomycetes, Timber Press Inc.(2000), p123. (3) http://www.hiddenforest.co.nz/slime/family/physaraceae/physa02.htm (4) M. Poulain, M. Meyer, J. Bozzonet, Les Myxomycetes, FMBDS (2011), Vol.1., p128; Vol.2., p168.
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Slo.: ?? - Syn.: Fuligo septica var. leavis - Habitat: Mixed mountain forest, dominant Picea abies and Fagus sylvatica, south oriented slope, warm place, calcareous bedrock, mostly in shade, partly protected from direct rain by tree canopies, average precipitation ~ 3.000 mm/year, average temperature 4-6 deg C, elevation 1.200 m (4.400 feet), alpine phytogeographical region. - Substratum: Dry, still intact bark of a recently wind fallen Picea abies, about 60 cm (2 feet) above ground. - Comment: Info on F. laevis on internet is sparse and somewhat confusing. However, because of unevenly colored spores (see arrows on the picture of spores) and generally good fit to the key in Ref.:(1) I decided for F. laevis. Yet, this would need an expert opinion. Three aethalia present of diameter 2-3.5 cm (0.8-1.4 inch) and ~1.5 cm (0.6 inch) thickness. SP chocolate brown, oac637 (The Online Auction Color Chart); cortex whitish, oac900, thin, shiny, fragile. Hypothallus white, shiny, thin, inconspicuous. - Note: Unevenly colored spores with lighter areas (arrows). Comparison of measured spore dimensions and data from literature for Fuligo laevis and Enteridium lycoperdon (an alternative). - Spores globose to subglobose, verruculose, paler on one side; dimensions: 7.7 (SD = 0.4) x 7.1 (SD = 0.3) micr., Q = 1.09 (SD = 0.06), n = 30. Motic B2-211A, magnification 1.000 x, oil, in water. - Ref.: (1) B. Ing, The Myxomycetes of Britain and Ireland,The Richmond Publ. Co.Ltd, (1999), p 241. (8-90 za Enteridium lycoperdon) (2) S.L.Stephenson and H.Stempen, Myxomycetes, Timber Press Inc.(2000), p 123. (3) http://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20q?search=Fuligo+laevis 7-9 (4) http://www.hotfreebooks.com/book/The-North-American-Slime-Moulds-Thomas-H-Thomas-Huston-MacBride.html ------- for Enteridium lycoperdon: (5) http://champyves.pagesperso-orange.fr/champignons/fichier_htm/autres/Enteridium_lycoperdon. (6) http://www.fotofunghi.it/pages/fungi/enteridium_lycoperdon.htm (7) http://www.marn.at/baumpilze/reticularia-lycoperdon.html (8) http://zipcodezoo.com/protozoa/r/reticularia_lycoperdon_var._lycoperdon/ - Key to the Order: Ref.:(1) B. Ing, The Myxomycetes of Britain and Ireland,The Richmond Publ. Co.Ltd, (1999), p 10.
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Syn.: Arcyria nutans (Bull) Grev - Habitat: Overgrown former grassland; dominant trees Ailanthus altissima, Fraxinus ornus, Corylus avellana, Fagus sylvatica, Juglans regia, Tilia sp., Prunus domestica; next to an abandoned farmhouse; flat terrain, calcareous ground; full shade, quite humid and relatively warm place, partly protected from direct rain by tree canopies; average precipitation ~ 3.000 mm/year, average temperature 7-9 deg C, elevation 590 m (1.950 feet), alpine phytogeographical region. - Substratum: vertical surface of dead, still standing trunk of Juglans regia partly still in bark fully covered by a Polyporaceae, probably Inonotus sp.; about 1 m (three feet) above ground, northeast oriented surface of the trunk. - Comment: Long, hanging and very shortly stipitate sporocarps distinguish this species from others in Myxomycetes genus Arcyria. Sporocarps 8 - 13 mm long, about 1 mm diameter, flexible. Stalk very short, hard to observe, almost sessile sporocarps; sporocarps ocher-yellow, oac848; SP abundant, ocher-yellow, oac 856. - Spores subglobose and almost smooth, scattered warts hardly visible with my equipment. Dimensions: 8.7 (SD = 0.3) x 8.3 (SD = 0,2) μ, Q = 1.05 (SD = 0.02), n = 30. Olympus CH20, NEA 100x/1.25, magnification 1.000 x, oil, (picture of spores and capillitium threads). Bausch & Lomb 4/0.10, magnification 40x, in water (picture of capillitium). AmScope MA500 digital camera. - Ref.: (1) B. Ing, The Myxomycetes of Britain and Ireland, The Richmond Publ. Co.Ltd, (1999), p 113. (2) http://www.bcrc.firdi.org.tw/fungi/fungal_detail.jsp?id=FU200802090023 (3) http//hiddenforest.co.nz/slime/family/arcyriaceae/arcyr03.htm
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Slo.: reslov cvet - Habitat: edge of former pasture; partly overgrown with Picea abies, Ostrya carpinifolia, Fagus sylvatica; slightly inclined mountain slope, southwest aspect, locally almost flat terrain, shallow, stony, calcareous ground; open, mostly sunny place; exposed to direct rain, average precipitations ~ 3.000 mm/year, average temperature 7 - 9 deg C, elevation 595 m (1.950 feet), alpine phytogeographical region. Temperatures from Oct. 11. to Oct. 19. were between 1 to 12 deg C, from Oct. 13. to Oct. 19. there were periods of very heavy rains. Substratum: on bark of a piece of cut down Picea abies trunk deposited on a pile of cut down Picea abies wood and branches; wood in its initial decomposition phase, mostly still in bark. Comments: This Myxomicete almost certainly belongs to genus Fuligo. The first measurement of its spores made on live material distinguished it from the most common species in this genus Fuligo septica. Fuligo septica has smaller spores, from 6 to 9 microns in diameter, while most of other species have spores larger than 10 microns in diameter. Also colors of either aethalium (fruiting body formed from all or most of the plasmodium), or of plasmodium (acellular, multinucleate mass of protoplasm, which crawls around, feeds and grows before it forms aethalium), or of inner lime (structure within spore mass of mature aethalium) of this observation fit perfectly to none of the five varieties of Fuligo septica described in Ref.:3 (namely: F.s. var. septica, F.s. var. flava, F.s. var. candida, F.s. var. rosea and F.s. var. rufa). Using the key of the genus Fuligo given in Ref.: 1 one comes straight to Fuligo intermedia Macbr., syn.: Fuligo cinerea var. ecorticata Lister. The measured average spore diameter and spore surface fit best, but not perfect, to this species (pertains to the first measurement of spores). But there are important differences from the descriptions of this species in the literature. For example, cortex (a more or less thick outer layer of an aethalium) is not thin as it should be. Hypothallus (a thin layer between the substrate and fruiting body) was membranous and of several layers (as it should be according to Ref.:1) but it was only locally white. Dominant colors were yellow and even red. According to literature the color of aethalium should be dirty white, pale gray or brownish. This was so only on a rather limited part of aethalium (see pictures 30-32 upper part of the aethalium). Aethalium was mostly black with partly deep reddish tint. The dried sample of the find has been analyzed at the Slovenian Forestry Institute by Mrs. Sanja Behri. Spores have been measured twice (on two sets of equipment). Significantly smaller average dimension (8.5-8.7 m and 8.8 m; n > 20) found. This fits well to Fuligo septica. However, the other observed discrepancies from this species remain. A most probable but unverified assumption is that very bad weather with low temperatures during the development of the aethalium caused unusual properties. The quite significant differences in the results of spore dimensions of all three measurements could be the consequence of an uneven development of spore mass in different parts of aethalium, which were analyzed. But this is only an assumption. Because of that a reliable determination of the find remains open. Spores minutely warted. Dimensions: 9.6 [10.2 ; 10.5] 11.1 x 8.4 [9.1 ; 9.4] 10.1 microns; Q = 1 [1.1] 1.2; N = 30; C = 95%; Me = 10.4 x 9.2 microns; Qe = 1.1. Olympus CH20, NEA 100x/1.25, magnification 1.000 x, oil (spores); NEA 40x/0.65, magnification 400x (all other pictures), in water; in vivo. AmScope MA500 digital camera. Herbarium: Mycotheca and lichen herbarium (LJU-Li) of Slovenian Forestry Institute, Vena pot 2, Ljubljana, Index Herbariorum LJF Ref.: (1) Personal communication with Mrs. dipl.biol. Sanja Behri, The Slovenian Forestry Institute, Ljubljana. (2) B. Ing, The Myxomycetes of Britain and Ireland, The Richmond Publ. Co.Ltd, (1999), p 244. (3) S.L. Stephenson and H. Stempen, Myxomycetes, Timber Press Inc.(2000), p 124. (4) M. Poulain, M. Meyer, J. Borronet, Les Myxomycetes, FMBDS (2011), Vol.1., p 392.
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Habitat: Alpine upland, partly steep grassland partly Pinus mugo stands on steep rock, east oriented slope, fully exposed to sun and precipitations, just one or two meters off still snow covered terrain, precipitations ~3.000 mm/year, average temperature 2-4 deg C, elevation 1.530 m (5.000 feet), alpine phytogeographical region. Substratum: Dead rotten grasses and twigs laying on ground where the snow melted just a few days back. Description: Outer white shell of 'balls' breaks off easily. Beneath it is another irregular white-black check-board like 'crust',. Underneath it there is a sometimes dense, sometimes loose net of shiny black fibers mainly radially oriented. In the middle there is an entirely black mass with apparently some hollow spaces. No distinct columella could be seen. Specimens brought home produced abundant 'black smoke' when moved after two days of drying. It is interesting that the place where I photographed the stuff had still to be covered by rapidly melting snow just a few days before I took the pictures. Acknowledgement: Many thanks for determination and comments to Irene Andersson, Darvin DeShazer, Gerhard Koller and Clive Shirley at MushroomObserver.org.
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Slo.: reslov cvet - syn. Mucorsepticus L., Reticularia septica (L.) With., Aethalium septicum (L.) Fr., Fuligo varians Sommerf. - Capillitium with characteristic nodes at magnification 400x. (Fig.4M). - Habitat: old partly tree overgrown pasture, near mixed wood edge; moderately southeast inclined foot of an old overgrown scree slope; open, dry, sunny place; shallow, skeletal, calcareous ground, exposed to direct rain, average precipitations ~ 3.000 mm/year, average temperature 7-9 deg C, elevation 630 m (2.070 feet), alpine phytogeographical region. - Substratum: a stump of Picea abies cut down three years ago. - Comment: Myxomycetes are poorly known yet very interesting creatures. For decades they have been shuffled back and forth between the animal and plants kingdoms until recognized as separate creatures. They are not animals because they proliferate by spores. They are also not plants since they crumble around (an animal like ability) and fix themselves firmly to substrate only at the end of their life cycle. They don't produce their own food like plants but feed by 'hunting' (actually engulfing) bacteria and tiny bits of other organic matter, which is another animal like feature. The first stage in their development cycle, which is observable in the field, is called plasmodium. Earlier stages (from myxoflagellates, myxoamoebae, to zygote) are microscopic and can be observed only in labs. Plasmodium is a single giant living cell, a clump of protoplasm filled with thousands of cell nuclei, crawling around, eating bacteria and growing. Some of such plasmodia are the largest cells of living creatures known. In some species they can measure several meters across or weight up to 20 kg. That it much larger than ostrich's eggs, which are popularly considered as 'largest living cells'! Plasmodia could be found in the field, some are even brightly colored and easy to spot; however, it is almost impossible to determine to which species they belong. Plasmodium of Fuligo septica is commonly described like disgusting mucus, spilled scrambled eggs, dogs vomiting and other 'benevolent' portrayals. - When the time is right or delicate environmental conditions required for growth worsen plasmodia eventually evolves (usually almost completely) into sporocarps of different forms. These are bodies producing spores and then vanishing. In genus Fuligo sporocarp is a cushion like aethalium sitting on a thin whitish, 'fibrous' layer called hypothallus (Fig.14.). These'cushions' are what one usually finds in the field. But, other Myxomycetes develop also many other forms of sporocarps full of beauty, delicacy and imagination. Aethalia of Fuligo septica are usually covered with a kind of crust called cortex, which is brittle and soon crumbles away. In humid conditions it may not fully develop (Ref.1). Inside a mature aethalium there is a mesh of thin tubes or fibers called capillitium and zillions of dark brown spores. Fuligo septica has characteristic nodes on capillitial tubes, which are clearly seen on Fig. 4M. In due course the aethalium decomposes almost entirely into spore mass (Fig.17., 18.), which are sooner or later blown or washed away (Fig.20. taken about three weeks after the first photo). Size and shape of spores and structure of their surface are important traits for species determination. - Cushion-shaped aethalium measured approximately 14 x 5 cm and was about 3 cm thick. Spores are minutely warty and globose to subglobose. Dimensions: 8 [8,4 ; 8,7] 9,1 x 7,4 [8 ; 8,2] 8,7 microns; Q = [1 ; 1,07] 1,1; N = 25; C = 95%; Me = 8,5 x 8,1 microns; Qe = 1,05. Olympus CH20, NEA 100x/1.25, magnification 1.000 x, oil (spores), NEA 40x/0.65, magnification 400x (capillitium), NEA 10x/0.25, magnification 100x (hypothallus); in water, living material. AmScope MA500 digital camera. Spore sample taken on July 23. 2014. - Herbarium: Mycotheca and lichen herbarium (LJU-Li) of Slovenian Forestry Institute, Vena pot 2, Ljubljana, Index Herbariorum LJF - Ref.: (1) B. Ing, The Myxomycetes of Britain and Ireland, The Richmond Publ. Co.Ltd, (1999), p 246 (2) S.L.Stephenson and H.Stempen, Myxomycetes, Timber Press Inc.(2000), p123. (3) http://www.hiddenforest.co.nz/slime/family/physaraceae/physa02.htm (4) M. Poulain, M. Meyer, J. Bozzonet, Les Myxomycetes, FMBDS (2011), Vol.1., p128; Vol.2., p168.
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Slo.: ?? - Syn.: Fuligo septica var. leavis - Habitat: Mixed mountain forest, dominant Picea abies and Fagus sylvatica, south oriented slope, warm place, calcareous bedrock, mostly in shade, partly protected from direct rain by tree canopies, average precipitation ~ 3.000 mm/year, average temperature 4-6 deg C, elevation 1.200 m (4.400 feet), alpine phytogeographical region. - Substratum: Dry, still intact bark of a recently wind fallen Picea abies, about 60 cm (2 feet) above ground. - Comment: Info on F. laevis on internet is sparse and somewhat confusing. However, because of unevenly colored spores (see arrows on the picture of spores) and generally good fit to the key in Ref.:(1) I decided for F. laevis. Yet, this would need an expert opinion. Three aethalia present of diameter 2-3.5 cm (0.8-1.4 inch) and ~1.5 cm (0.6 inch) thickness. SP chocolate brown, oac637 (The Online Auction Color Chart); cortex whitish, oac900, thin, shiny, fragile. Hypothallus white, shiny, thin, inconspicuous. - Note: Unevenly colored spores with lighter areas (arrows). Comparison of measured spore dimensions and data from literature for Fuligo laevis and Enteridium lycoperdon (an alternative). - Spores globose to subglobose, verruculose, paler on one side; dimensions: 7.7 (SD = 0.4) x 7.1 (SD = 0.3) micr., Q = 1.09 (SD = 0.06), n = 30. Motic B2-211A, magnification 1.000 x, oil, in water. - Ref.: (1) B. Ing, The Myxomycetes of Britain and Ireland,The Richmond Publ. Co.Ltd, (1999), p 241. (8-90 za Enteridium lycoperdon) (2) S.L.Stephenson and H.Stempen, Myxomycetes, Timber Press Inc.(2000), p 123. (3) http://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20q?search=Fuligo+laevis 7-9 (4) http://www.hotfreebooks.com/book/The-North-American-Slime-Moulds-Thomas-H-Thomas-Huston-MacBride.html ------- for Enteridium lycoperdon: (5) http://champyves.pagesperso-orange.fr/champignons/fichier_htm/autres/Enteridium_lycoperdon. (6) http://www.fotofunghi.it/pages/fungi/enteridium_lycoperdon.htm (7) http://www.marn.at/baumpilze/reticularia-lycoperdon.html (8) http://zipcodezoo.com/protozoa/r/reticularia_lycoperdon_var._lycoperdon/ - Key to the Order: Ref.:(1) B. Ing, The Myxomycetes of Britain and Ireland,The Richmond Publ. Co.Ltd, (1999), p 10.
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Slo.: reslov cvet - Habitat: edge of former pasture; partly overgrown with Picea abies, Ostrya carpinifolia, Fagus sylvatica; slightly inclined mountain slope, southwest aspect, locally almost flat terrain, shallow, stony, calcareous ground; open, mostly sunny place; exposed to direct rain, average precipitations ~ 3.000 mm/year, average temperature 7 - 9 deg C, elevation 595 m (1.950 feet), alpine phytogeographical region. Temperatures from Oct. 11. to Oct. 19. were between 1 to 12 deg C, from Oct. 13. to Oct. 19. there were periods of very heavy rains. Substratum: on bark of a piece of cut down Picea abies trunk deposited on a pile of cut down Picea abies wood and branches; wood in its initial decomposition phase, mostly still in bark. Comments: This Myxomicete almost certainly belongs to genus Fuligo. The first measurement of its spores made on live material distinguished it from the most common species in this genus Fuligo septica. Fuligo septica has smaller spores, from 6 to 9 microns in diameter, while most of other species have spores larger than 10 microns in diameter. Also colors of either aethalium (fruiting body formed from all or most of the plasmodium), or of plasmodium (acellular, multinucleate mass of protoplasm, which crawls around, feeds and grows before it forms aethalium), or of inner lime (structure within spore mass of mature aethalium) of this observation fit perfectly to none of the five varieties of Fuligo septica described in Ref.:3 (namely: F.s. var. septica, F.s. var. flava, F.s. var. candida, F.s. var. rosea and F.s. var. rufa). Using the key of the genus Fuligo given in Ref.: 1 one comes straight to Fuligo intermedia Macbr., syn.: Fuligo cinerea var. ecorticata Lister. The measured average spore diameter and spore surface fit best, but not perfect, to this species (pertains to the first measurement of spores). But there are important differences from the descriptions of this species in the literature. For example, cortex (a more or less thick outer layer of an aethalium) is not thin as it should be. Hypothallus (a thin layer between the substrate and fruiting body) was membranous and of several layers (as it should be according to Ref.:1) but it was only locally white. Dominant colors were yellow and even red. According to literature the color of aethalium should be dirty white, pale gray or brownish. This was so only on a rather limited part of aethalium (see pictures 30-32 upper part of the aethalium). Aethalium was mostly black with partly deep reddish tint. The dried sample of the find has been analyzed at the Slovenian Forestry Institute by Mrs. Sanja Behri. Spores have been measured twice (on two sets of equipment). Significantly smaller average dimension (8.5-8.7 m and 8.8 m; n > 20) found. This fits well to Fuligo septica. However, the other observed discrepancies from this species remain. A most probable but unverified assumption is that very bad weather with low temperatures during the development of the aethalium caused unusual properties. The quite significant differences in the results of spore dimensions of all three measurements could be the consequence of an uneven development of spore mass in different parts of aethalium, which were analyzed. But this is only an assumption. Because of that a reliable determination of the find remains open. Spores minutely warted. Dimensions: 9.6 [10.2 ; 10.5] 11.1 x 8.4 [9.1 ; 9.4] 10.1 microns; Q = 1 [1.1] 1.2; N = 30; C = 95%; Me = 10.4 x 9.2 microns; Qe = 1.1. Olympus CH20, NEA 100x/1.25, magnification 1.000 x, oil (spores); NEA 40x/0.65, magnification 400x (all other pictures), in water; in vivo. AmScope MA500 digital camera. Herbarium: Mycotheca and lichen herbarium (LJU-Li) of Slovenian Forestry Institute, Vena pot 2, Ljubljana, Index Herbariorum LJF Ref.: (1) Personal communication with Mrs. dipl.biol. Sanja Behri, The Slovenian Forestry Institute, Ljubljana. (2) B. Ing, The Myxomycetes of Britain and Ireland, The Richmond Publ. Co.Ltd, (1999), p 244. (3) S.L. Stephenson and H. Stempen, Myxomycetes, Timber Press Inc.(2000), p 124. (4) M. Poulain, M. Meyer, J. Borronet, Les Myxomycetes, FMBDS (2011), Vol.1., p 392.