KAREN'S GALLERY (est. 2005)

Wolf's Milk (likely Lycogala epidendrum)

6/13/14 by Karen, Newark Oaks, DE
Lycogala is a slime mold often mistaken for a fungus.- on wood flower box on deck - orange form is more rare than pink.

scroll down for pics of old and new fruiting bodies:
http://www.marylandbiodiversity.com/viewSpecies.php?species=10315

Lycogala epidendrum
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
"
Lycogala epidendrum, commonly known as wolf's milk, groening's slime is a cosmopolitan species of plasmodial slime mould which is often mistaken for a fungus. The aethalia, or fruiting bodies, occur either scattered or in groups on damp rotten wood, especially on large logs, from June to November. These aethalia are small, pink to brown cushion-like globs. They may excrete a pink paste if the outer wall is broken before maturity. When mature, the colour tends to become more brownish. When not fruiting, single celled individuals move about as very small, red amoeba-like organisms called plasmodia, masses of protoplasm that engulf bacteria, fungal and plant spores, protozoa, and particles of non-living organic matter through phagocytosis (see slime mould for more information).

and:
http://urbanmushrooms.com/index.php?id=73
"
Lycogala epidendrum is a “slime mold”, which isn’t a mushroom or even a true fungus at all. It has more in common with the amoeba or paramecium you find in pond water . We are including it because it resembles some fungi and is most often studied along with the true fungi."

Comments

No comments yet.

  •  

Photo info

Random image