Badhamia utricularis Slime Mould at Strumpshaw Fen – February 2025

On the same trunk, near The Outpost, that we saw Stemonitis slime mould in December, we were excited to find curry-yellow Badhamia utricularis sporangia, but not as spectacular as our find in December 2023, also near The Outpost.

The Badhamia utricularis is left of centre in the photo above, at the bottom of the trunk. Also on the trunk – to the right under the patch of green – was a linear growth of Phlebia radiata (wrinkled crust). Badhamia utricularis is fungivorous and is known to consume Phlebia radiata [1]

The photo below is the next day 23 hours later and the stalks had become more slender and the sporotheca duller in colour.

And the following day – another 28 hours later – the sporotheca were turning a pale, slightly iridescent, bluish-grey.

Close up of the sporangia in the above photo.

The following day – another 20 hours later – the sporotheca had turned greyish-blue.

Close up of the sporangia in the above photo.

Three days later the sporotheca were turning back to a pale bluish-grey colour.

A week later the many of the sporotheca had dehisced exposing the brown spore mass.

References:

[1] Bruce Ing – Tansley Review No. 62, The phytosociology of myxomycetes, New Phytologist – Page 187