Plasmodial slime molds, the Glamorous Myxomycetes

[momsalive1]

So, OK, fine, my f'list only includes one fellow geek who thought the cellular slime molds were worth commenting on. These, I promise, are better looking and you are likely to see them on rotted wood in your local gardens or forests.

Like cellular slime molds, plasmodial slime molds have a microscopic amoeba stage which also decides at some point to come streaming into an area to meet other amoebas and fuse. But unlike the cellular molds, they meld into one giant cell. This cell, bigger than any other known cell, sometimes a good 10 inches of cell, wanders around rotting mulch, logs, lawns and other places thick with prey. They are largely peaceful, unless you are a microbe.

Yes, they are the inspiration for the classic movie "The Blob" and, possibly, The Founders of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.

Here is a cell group wandering through a maze.



This wandering phase is usually very . The thickened edge is the moving part.









When the spirit moves them, the blob hardens up and makes stalks with spores. This is when they get pretty.



I don't know what genus these two belong to, but they look suspiciously alien to me.





Diachaea



Diderma




Two very different different looking species of Hemitrichia






These two are species of "Wolf's milk slime mold", Lycogala






Three species of Lamproderma








Stemonitis




Badhamia



Leocarpus



Metatrichia




A millipede eating "Red Raspberry" slime mold, Tubifera






A species of Arcyria, very close up. For the most part, stalks are about a millimeter or two.



Another species of Arcyria



Dictydium



Trichia






Finally, and only as a possible public service to dog owners, I have to admit that the group does include the not-so-scenic slime mold, seen here wandering on some mulch. It dries up to the crusty spore forming stage in a few days and blows away.

Comments

[gnomentum.livejournal.com]

The top hemitrichia sample looks like spaghetti hoops!

Some of those really are surprisingly pretty, though..

[momsalive1]

Some sites I looked at called it the pretzel slime mold.

"...surprisingly pretty.."

**beams** You like to be out and about in the woods, if I remember right, so maybe you will see them next time you take a walk.

[gnomentum.livejournal.com]

That was weird - I got this notification before but wasn't able to get to reply!

I'll certainly be looking closer at what's growing on things from now on.. when I stop waddling of course!

[ffiondove.livejournal.com]

Wow! These are incredible, they really do look like something out of a sci-fi film! but they are real and natural and so very beautiful ......except for the dogs vomit.

[momsalive1]

I'm glad you like them!! I'm sure there are some in your garden. When you are finished moving, will you start one at the new house?

[lapenn.livejournal.com]

mmmm, those are beautiful. thanks for sharing!

this is the sort of stuff I love about biology.