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Lycogala non-epidendrum

In 2014 I published the first edition of my book ‘Where the slime mold creeps: the fascinating world of myxomycetes’ in which I included the following quotation:

“A similar complex of microspecies is found in Lycogala epidendrum and the closely-related L. exiguum. Recently, with L. terrestris … and L. confusum … two of these infraspecific forms were recognized at the species level (Ing 2000). It is likely that future studies including molecular methods will result in a better understanding of the taxonomy of these species complexes.” – Schnittler 2000

In 2022 Professor Dmitro Leontyev published a paper Another species complex in myxomycetes: diversity of peridial structures in Lycogala epidendrum (Leontyev et al 2022). It describes and illustrates the many different peridia he examined while studying sporocarps collected in Europe, Asia, North and Central America and Australia, and reveals at least 21 morphotypes and 39 ribogroups that are included within the name L. epidendrum.

In March 2023 Professor Leontyev visited my study site at Birralee in northern Tasmania to collect myxomycetes in the field and to look at specimens I have collected since 2010. He selected nine of the 18 specimens of Lycogala in my collection and asked that they be sent to his laboratory for further examination via the National Herbarium of Victoria (MEL).

I was intrigued to investigate the specimens of interest and photographed the peridial structure of the nine specimens he selected, as well as six additional specimens that were collected during or after his visit. The following photographs (except Lycogala 2303) were taken with a 10x microscope objective on a Canon DSLR camera; multiple images were taken and stacked using Zerene Stacker.

Lycogala
Lycogala 256, 12 November 2014. Substrate: strongly decayed bark and frass on fallen Eucalyptus obliqua. Solitary sporocarp, 4 mm diameter.
Lycogala 505, 7 February 2016. Substrate: bryophyte-covered eucalypt stump. Eight sporocarps ranging in size from 1.7-5.5 mm diameter.
Lycogala 1181, 27 September 2010. Substrate: Decaying Pomaderris apetala.
Two sporocarps 2.3 & 2.4 mm diameter.
Lycogala 1182, 1 November 2012. Substrate: strongly decayed Pomaderris apetala. Three sporocarps 2 mm, 3 mm & 3.6 mm diameter.
Lycogala 1184, 9 Nov. 2012. Substrate: strongly decayed Pomaderris apetala. 2.6 mm diameter
Lycogala 1196, 2 April 2013. Substrate: Pomaderris apetala log. Seven sporocarps raging in size from 4 mm – 6.5 mm diameter.
Lycogala 1197, 25 April 2014. Substrate: log on ground. One solitary (or dislodged) sporocarp 5 mm diameter, and three crowded sporocarps 3 mm, 3.3 mm & 3.6 mm.
Lycogala 1401, 13 September 2017. Substrate eucalypt log, firewood pile.
Two sporocarps 2.5 & 4.5mm diameter
Lycogala 1602, 13 January 2018. Substrate: Eucalypt (big tree) log. 2 mm diameter

Lycogala collected in March 2023

Lycogala 2299 in the field 16 January 2023. Substrate: Banksia marginata.
Lycogala 2299 18 March 2023. Substrate: Banksia marginata.
Lycogala 2300, 18 March 2023. Substrate: Strongly decayed Pomaderris apetala. Solitary 3.7 mm diameter sporocarp appeared 9 March.
Lycogala 2301, 18 March 2023. Substrate: well decayed eucalypt. Two sporocarps 2.2 & 1.6 mm diameter. Collected by Dmitro Leontyev and left to dry and mature in a shady place.
Lycogala 2302, 18 March 2023. Substrate: small decaying branch of Banksia marginata. Appeared 12 March 2023 and left in the field to mature. Crowded and scattered sporocarps, 2.5 mm, 4.6 mm, 4.2 mm, & 4.2 mm diameter.
Lycogala 2303, 18 March 2023. Substrate: woody debris and macropod (probably Red-necked Wallaby Macropus rufogriseus) dung on large, well decayed eucalypt log near the house. Crowded and scattered sporocarps, 3.5 mm, 4.5 mm & 5.5 mm diameter.
Lycogala 2304, 19 March 2023. Substrate: small fallen eucalypt log. Solitary sporocarp 4.4 mm diameter.
Lycogala 2306, 24 March 2023. Substrate: Decaying Pomaderris apetala. Two sporocarps 4.3 mm & 3 mm diameter.

Reference: Leontyev, Dmytro & Schnittler, Martin & Ishchenko, Yuri & Quade, Antje & Kahlert, Heike & Alvarado, Carlos & Stephenson, Steve. (2022). Another species complex in myxomycetes: diversity of peridial structures in Lycogala epidendrum. Nova Hedwigia. 114. 413-434. 10.1127/nova_hedwigia/2022/0690.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/360847608_Another_species_complex_in_myxomycetes_diversity_of_peridial_structures_in_Lycogala_epidendrum

Schnittler, M. (2001) Ecology and Biogeography of Myxomycetes.

Published by sarahlloydmyxos

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