Slime Mould

Arcyria ferruginea

TQ4792 11/01/2024 ©Raymond Small

Members of the Arcyria Family generally produce stalked or sessile, brightly coloured sporangia. Arcyria ferruginea is a winter species with fruitbodies that develop from a rose-red or creamy white plasmodium. It grows in crowded colonies 1-2 millimetres tall on rotten trunks and stumps. 'Ferru' means iron and is a reference to rusty colouration seen in the latter stages. The colour changes to brick red and brown prior to sporing. It was found in Hainault Forest on a fallen decorticated Scots pine. It is not common. Thank you to Professor Bruce Ing for verifying this sighting.

TQ4792 11/01/2024 ©Raymond Small

TQ4792 04/02/2024 ©Raymond Small

TQ4792 27/01/2024 ©Raymond Small

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