The "Park" for myxomycetes in my forest

 I would like to report the occurrence of slime molds in the Myxomycetes "Park" in my forest. What is my myxomycetes park? 

 That might be a bit of an exaggeration, but to explain it clearly, I've collected dead logs from various places and placed them in a corner of my own woods so that I can observe slime molds at any time.

 The other day I noticed that the myxomycetes were growing on a decayed wet log in the "park".  In fact, they seemed to be immature fruiting bodies. They looked white, shiny and fresh. It reminds me of an ice bar with a stick (maybe Japanese English?).

What does it look like?　This is not a grain of cooked rice！

 But the next day they changed drastically as they matured. Judging by its appearance, I think it belongs to the genus Stremonitis.

Of course, it is necessary to examine the shape of the capillitia and spores in detail under a microscope to determine the species. 

Other than that, they look like fingers with nails. 

 Please compare the photo below with the first one. You can see the drastic changes. The fruiting bodies are filled with spores.

Above photos were taken on May 14th and 15th.

  

 Roughly speaking, I think the myxomycetes can be divided into two groups based on where they form their fruiting bodies. That is, one group forms fruiting bodies on the dead fallen leaves and the other group forms fruiting bodies on the dead moist logs.

 Regarding the latter group, even if many fruiting bodies are formed on certain dead logs this year, the number of fruiting bodies on the same logs may decrease next year or no fruiting bodies may occur the year after next. This is because as the logs continue to decay, they become useless to the slime molds. 

 Recently, I have noticed that the number of decayed logs favorable to slime mold growth has been steadily decreasing in the woods I have been examining, unless new decayed logs have been added. Favored dead wood includes oak, other hardwoods, and pine, to name a few.

 Since almost all of the trees in the surrounding woods are cedars and cypresses, I have found that these dead woods are not conducive to the growth of slime molds. I believe that if nature was allowed to take its course, there would be a shortage of decaying wood in the woods, which would be favorable for slime molds. 

  From this point of view, I have collected many dead logs suitable for slime molds from various places and placed them in the corner of my forest last year to make the "park" (see photo below). But I think it really just looks like a garbage dump to the person who does not know the circumstances.

 In fact, before making this "park", I made the similar "park" in the shady place in my orchard about 2 years ago. But that place did not seem to be as shady as I expected. Especially at least in the morning till noon. So, I searched for a suitable place for the occurrence of slime mold.

↓ This is Hemitrichia serpula, known as the pretzel slime mold, which I happened to find in the "park" I made in the orchard last year.    

 I feel free to go there often, and I can always check for the presence of myxomycetes, I can add as many rotten logs as I want. Also, I do not have to walk through the woods looking for slime molds. These are the good points of my "park".

Last updated on Octobar 26th.