Fungus Identifier
Slime Molds
Slime mold is a fascinating organism that belongs to the group protists. Often found in damp, decaying environments, it can exist in various forms, including a single-celled amoeba or a multicellular structure. Slime molds are known for their unique ability to move and grow often forming intricate networks as they search for food. Their vibrant colors and unusual life cycle make them a captivating subject for both scientists and nature enthusiasts alike.
Physarum
Polycephalum
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Family: Physaridae
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Commonly found in: cool, humid, and dark areas. Found throughout North and South America, Asia, and Australia.
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Dimensions: Usually between 3-4” in diameter, but can grow up to 30” in the right conditions
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Description: Physarum Polycephalum commonly known as "The Blob" is a slime mold that grows in moist and dark conditions in forests. Physarum spores germinate year round and produce more organisms.
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The fruiting body of Physarum is bright yellow with occasionally brown tips near the edges, it can be very slimy and wet.
Dictyostelium
Discoidium
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Family: Dictyosteliiae
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Commonly found in: Decaying forest matter, leaves, and tree bark. Typically found in deciduous forests.
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Dimensions: Usually between 0.5-1” in diameter and is oddly formed.
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Description: Dictyostelium Discoidium is a slime mold that grows in moist and dark conditions in forests and on composing forest matter. Dictyostelium spores germinate year round and produce more organisms.
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The color of this slime mold is very clear and translucent so it is hard to spot but does feel wet and slimy to the touch.
Fuligo
Septica
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Family: Physaraceae
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Commonly found in: Bark mulch, wood chip mulch, in the soil, especially with areas with high concentration of zinc, copper, and lead.
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Dimensions: Length & width are between 2.5-20 cm, 1-3 cm in thickness.
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Description: Fuligo Septica is also commonly known as the "dog vomit" or "scrambled egg" slime. This is because of its signature bile yellow color. As the plasmodium ages, it turns into a brownish color, and the interior mass becomes a violet black because of the presence of mature spores. ​
Arcyria
Denudata
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Family: Arcyriaceae
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Commonly found in: Typically in broadleaf or coniferous forests, on decaying wood, logs, and leaves. Often near Oak, Beech, and Pine trees.
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Dimensions: They can be 1-1.25cm tall, and 0.9-1cm wide.
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Description: Arcyria Denudata, commonly known as the "cotton candy" slime mold, is a very bright, and fuzzy looking slime mold. Its signature color is a bright pink color which is extremely recognizable.
Bahamian
Utricularis
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Family: Physaraceae
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Commonly found in: temperate regions across Europe, North America, and parts of New Zealand. Found under oak trees in forests.
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Dimensions: 0.5 to 1mm in diameter for each of the spores of this slime mold.
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Description: Bahamian Utricularis, commonly known as the Hanging Slime Mold, because its sporangia tend to hang from tree branches, and rock. The fruiting body of Bahamian Utricularis tends to be orange with light orange to white stalks.
Tubifera
Ferruginosa
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Family: Myxogastria
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Commonly found in: rotten logs, and damp temperate forests throughout North America, Europe, and Asia.
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Dimensions: The fruiting bodies are less than 0.5mm wide, and up to 3-5 mm high. The fruiting bodies are tightly packed in clusters which can be up to 15cm long.
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Description: Tubifera Ferruginosa, also known as the red raspberry slime mold, has red-cushiony fluting bodies when it's in its early stages of life. When the slime mold matures, the fluting body turns into a purplish-brown color which is different from its vibrant red color.
Arcyria
Cinerea
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​Family: Arcyriaceae
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Commonly found in: decaying wood, bark, leaf litter, and dung.
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Dimensions: The sporangia are cylindrical and can grow 0.1 to 0.8 millimeters in diameter, and 0.3 to 4.0 millimeters tall. The calyculus can grow up to 2 millimeters in length.
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Description: Acryria Cinerea is a scattered slime mold, occurring in the digitate clusters of two to twenty sporangia. Usually the cylindrical spores are pale gray to light brown or occasionally light yellow. This species is relatively common in the field, so it is common to find in normal forests.
Mucilago
Crustacaea
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Family: Didymiaceae
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Commonly found in: damp and shady locations, including forest floors and on decaying logs or tree stumps.
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Dimensions: Forms elliptical fruiting bodies that can grow up to 10 cm long and 5 cm wide.
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Description: Mucilago Crustacaea, also known as dog sick slime mold, is known for having a yellow oval shape made up of small sporangia. The mature stage of the slime mold forms a crust-like, often white, structure which has fruiting bodies that are about 1-5mm in diameter.
Diachea
Leucopodia
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Family: Didymiaceae
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Commonly found in: Moist, shady areas, commonly on damp wood logs on the floor of the forest.
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Dimensions: The fruiting body (sporangia) of Diachea Leucopodia is cylindrical, 0.7-2mm tall, and 0.3-0.6mm in diameter.
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Description: Diachea Leucopodia, commonly known as the white-footed slime mold, is a species of slime mold characterized by its distinctive iridescent fruiting bodies on top of white stalks. These sporangia often display blue, purple, or bronze iridescence.
Ceratiomyxa Fruticulosa
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Family: Ceratiomyxa
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Commonly found in: decaying wood, logs and stumps, especially in humid environments.
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Dimensions: Ceratiomyxa Fruticulosa has individual fruiting bodies which are typically 0.5-1mm wide and 1-10mm tall. These colonies can cover many centimeters or up to a meter.
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Description: Ceratiomyxa Fruticulosa, commonly known as coral slime mold, forms white, branching, coral like structures on decaying wood.