SLIME MOULDS

ARCYRIACEAE

Members of the Arcyria Family generally produce stalked or sessile, brightly coloured sporangia.

Arcyria ferruginea is a winter species with fruitbodies that develop from a rose-red or creamy white plasmodium. It grows in crowded colonies 1-2 millimetres tall on rotten trunks and stumps. 'Ferru' means iron and is a reference to rusty colouration seen in the latter stages. The colour changes to brick red and brown prior to sporing. It was found in Hainault Forest on a fallen decorticated Scots pine. It is not common. Thank you to Professor Bruce Ing for verifying this sighting.

Arcyria stipata has short-stalked sporocarps up to 3mm tall. Stipata means 'packed' which accurately describes how the fruiting bodies are tightly packed together. Found on beech deadwood.

Arcyria denudata is frequently found in large groups. This slime mould has stalked, crowded, pinkish-red and deep crimson sporocarps, reaching a height of 1-2mm. Found on beech deadwood.

>>> Next: Cribrariaceae