Slime Moulds & Eyelash Fungi on Decaying Trunk at Strumpshaw Fen – March & April 2024

Throughout February and March—in the reserve woodland—we came across a number of groups of Hemitrichiaslime moulds and Scutellinia (eyelash fungus).

March

Notably, this decaying trunk at The Dell – that the daughter found – hosted Hemitrichia and Scutellinia. Also present were Daldinia concentrica (King Alfred’s cakes) suggesting an ash tree (Fraxinus excelsior).

In the photo below there’s Hemitrichia on the sapwood and Scutellinia on the peeling bark (left of centre of the first trunk photo above).

Close up of the Scutellinia on the bark

More Scutellinia (just right of centre in the second trunk photo above).

The daughter noticed that one group of Scutellinia was surrounded by the remains of a King Alfred’s cake (far right in second trunk photo above).

Close up of the group above.

Groups of Scutellinia below the King Alfred’s cake remnant.

Sporing Hemitrichia…

These Hemitrichia were somewhat different in structure and colour to the Hemitrichia we found at the end of the trail.

The stalk and cups of these sporangia on the trunk seem to merge more gradually—the stalk and cup are less distinct—and overall more yellow.

Hemitrichi clavata and Hemitrichi calyculata are very similar but the literature states that H. clavata is distinguished from H. calyculata by a deeper cup that tapers to merge with the stem. H. calyculata has a narrower stem and a shallower cup that is more abruptly separated from the stem [1][2][3].

Mid April

In mid April the Scutellinia was still prolific but the Hemitrichia was diminishing.

The daughter spotted some clay-buff Stemonitis spore mass sporangia (below right just off-centre in the photo below).

Close up of the Stemonitis.

And a solitary, developing Lycogala aethalium.

Close up we noticed the rose peridium was broken exposing the scarlet goo inside.

[1] Myxomycetes : A Handbook of Slime Molds – Stephenson & Stempen.

[2] Hemitrichia calyculata – BIOTA of NEW ZEALAND

[3] Key to Hemitrichia– Danish Myxomycetes