The "plasmodial slime molds" (Myxomycetes or Myxogastria) are a diverse group of protists; many species are macroscopic(!) during considerable portions of their life cycles. The large yellow slime Physarum polycephalum is used as a laboratory model organism and is consequently well-studied and widely cultured (it is even commercially available), but many other species appear to be quite understudied in certain areas.
I have recently taken an interest in cultivation of large non-polycephalum myxomycetes. Oddly, this seems to be rarely attempted by anyone (especially non-researchers), despite the fact that many large species are aesthetically attractive and apparently photographed quite regularly by macrophotography hobbyists.
Analysis and current progress
According to this:
Order Physarales has phaneroplasmodia, which are typically large, colorful and conspicuous
Order Stemonitales has aphanoplasmodia, which are macroscopic but also typically transparent and cryptic until shortly before fruiting
Order Trichiales has trichiaceous plasmodia, which share morphological features with both of the above-listed
Order Echinosteliales has protoplasmodia, which are microscopic
Order Liceales was not mentioned; however, in another research article it was stated that the order contained both protoplasmodial and phaneroplasmodial species.
iNaturalist (unlike Bugguide) suffers from severe misidentification plagues; however, it is nevertheless useful for rough estimates. Within California, the most commonly observed species on its website include:
Fuligo septica (Physarales), a massive, ubiquitous yellow synanthrope, often mulch-associated
Lycogala epidendrum (Liceales), which forms puffy reddish fruiting bodies that darken to brown. It is probably large enough to have phanero- and not protoplasmodia; however, it seems largely restricted to rotted forest wood (I am currently unable to access forests due to various reasons, including severe dung contamination)
Enteridium/Reticularia lycoperdon (Liceales): round, white, large; according to this British paper, it is also found on rotting wood but is at least somewhat synanthropic.
Current slime-collection efforts have focused largely on F. septica due to its highly synanthropic behavior and conspicuous plasmodia. Despite the presence of intermittent rains for several weeks (Fuligo requires copious moisture for its large plasmodia, and I live in a semidesert), I have failed to detect any plasmodia in various small mulched flowerbeds. Perhaps the local public garden may be a more suitable area for exploring, as several iNaturalist Fuligo observations were located there.
Analysis and current progress
According to this:
Order Physarales has phaneroplasmodia, which are typically large, colorful and conspicuous
Order Stemonitales has aphanoplasmodia, which are macroscopic but also typically transparent and cryptic until shortly before fruiting
Order Trichiales has trichiaceous plasmodia, which share morphological features with both of the above-listed
Order Echinosteliales has protoplasmodia, which are microscopic
Order Liceales was not mentioned; however, in another research article it was stated that the order contained both protoplasmodial and phaneroplasmodial species.
iNaturalist (unlike Bugguide) suffers from severe misidentification plagues; however, it is nevertheless useful for rough estimates. Within California, the most commonly observed species on its website include:
Fuligo septica (Physarales), a massive, ubiquitous yellow synanthrope, often mulch-associated
Lycogala epidendrum (Liceales), which forms puffy reddish fruiting bodies that darken to brown. It is probably large enough to have phanero- and not protoplasmodia; however, it seems largely restricted to rotted forest wood (I am currently unable to access forests due to various reasons, including severe dung contamination)
Enteridium/Reticularia lycoperdon (Liceales): round, white, large; according to this British paper, it is also found on rotting wood but is at least somewhat synanthropic.
Current slime-collection efforts have focused largely on F. septica due to its highly synanthropic behavior and conspicuous plasmodia. Despite the presence of intermittent rains for several weeks (Fuligo requires copious moisture for its large plasmodia, and I live in a semidesert), I have failed to detect any plasmodia in various small mulched flowerbeds. Perhaps the local public garden may be a more suitable area for exploring, as several iNaturalist Fuligo observations were located there.
