The myxomycetes found on a dead tree in the woods

   Today, I went to look for the Myxomycetes at the woods near my parents’ house again. Recently I have been visiting there frequently. Because the rainy season in Japan will be soon over this year, when the rainy season ends, the hot and dry weather will prevail and this means an unfavorable condition for the Myxomycetes.  

So, I go there as many times as possible while it is in rainy season.

 This is a forest road along the ridge line where I am looking for the Myxomycetes usually.　　　

 The base of the trunk of a fallen dead pine tree had turned over completely beside the forest road.　As a matter of fact, this fallen dead tree was blocking the forest road, so the top part has been cut off and only the base of the trunk remained. Looking closely, I found several kinds of slime molds growing on the dead root. What looks white is Ceratiomyxa sp., a common slime mold.

This is the slime mold frequently found here, Cribraria sp.

 Judging from its close-up photo, I guess it's Cribraria piriformis var. notablis, an easily found Myxomycetes in Japan. 　

 There were two kinds of the Myxomycetes, C. piriformis var. notablis mentioned above and Ceratiomyxa fruticulosa, growing together in harmony on the same place of a dead tree. Ceratiomyxa fruticulosa looks like a white sea anemone.

Even though they emerged together tightly, they both look like they don't care each other.

  This is the same circumstnces, although in this case, it is C. fruticulosa var. porioides on behalf of C. fruticulosa.  Normally, it would more resemble a white coral. In fact, its English common name is Coral Slime Mold.

 The stalk of C. piriformis var. notablis was buried in the fruitbodies of C. fruticulosa var. porioides. It seems that two Myxomycetes are unaffected each other. 

　In this case, three kinds of the Myxomycetes were growing together in the same place.

　The white taper-shaped one is Arcyria cinerea. Small purple globe is  probably Cribraria cancellata. And, C. piriformis var. notablis mentioned above.

I think it is enjoyable to look at three different Myxomycetes at the same time.

Photos were taken on July 20 and 21.