Slime Mold - Metatrichia vesparium
Metatrichia vesparium is a curious and striking species of Myxomycetes, distinctive by the multiple heads developed from a single stem. The fruiting bodies (sporangia) are 1.0 - 1.5 mm long, with rounded top, dark red, red-brown (rusty red), fading to dark color, shining. Stalks are usually fused, with clusters of sporangia erect on the apex, brownish red or darker.
This species is cosmopolitan and can be found on rotten and very moist hard wood. It is reported from Europe, North and South America, Australia, New Zealand, USA, China, Japan, and Taiwan.
[Protozoa - Mycetozoa - Myxomycota - Trichiales - Trichiaceae -
Metatrichia -
M. vesparium]
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Photo credit:
©Mikel Tapia | Locality: not indicated (2010)