Stemonitis slime mold over the last week
This is a collage of photos of the same Slime Mold (Myxogastria, Myxomycetes) in the woods over the last week. I believe they are the genus Stemonitis, all shot on the same well-rotted fallen branch of Coast Live Oak (Quercus agrifolia, Fagaceae). I got the photo on the left of the egg-like plasmodia a week ago on January 12, here. Then the plasmodia ripened into chocolate-colored "hot dogs on a stick" the next day on January 13, here. Then the new sporangia started releasing spores on January 14, here. Then I skipped a few days as the sporangia didn't change much, but by January 19 yesterday, you can see that the sporangia (with raindrops!) have been releasing their spores - "flying Mother Nature's Silver seed to a new home." It's a neat progression that shows how these microscopic critters get from one decomposing branch to another fresh one. See this photo for a bit more info about these fascinating creatures. (San Marcos Pass, 19 January 2018)
Just these two photos today, as I'm computer-weary after working all day on the newsletter for the Santa Ynez Valley Natural History Society all day. I'm just about done. I'll send it out to a few society board members for review and comments tomorrow and hopefully get it to the printers on Monday. It was cold and too windy for photos today anyway as our small storm blew through, good timing.
Stemonitis slime mold over the last week
This is a collage of photos of the same Slime Mold (Myxogastria, Myxomycetes) in the woods over the last week. I believe they are the genus Stemonitis, all shot on the same well-rotted fallen branch of Coast Live Oak (Quercus agrifolia, Fagaceae). I got the photo on the left of the egg-like plasmodia a week ago on January 12, here. Then the plasmodia ripened into chocolate-colored "hot dogs on a stick" the next day on January 13, here. Then the new sporangia started releasing spores on January 14, here. Then I skipped a few days as the sporangia didn't change much, but by January 19 yesterday, you can see that the sporangia (with raindrops!) have been releasing their spores - "flying Mother Nature's Silver seed to a new home." It's a neat progression that shows how these microscopic critters get from one decomposing branch to another fresh one. See this photo for a bit more info about these fascinating creatures. (San Marcos Pass, 19 January 2018)
Just these two photos today, as I'm computer-weary after working all day on the newsletter for the Santa Ynez Valley Natural History Society all day. I'm just about done. I'll send it out to a few society board members for review and comments tomorrow and hopefully get it to the printers on Monday. It was cold and too windy for photos today anyway as our small storm blew through, good timing.