Enteridium lycoperdon
Encyclopedia
The False Puffball, Enteridium lycoperdon, is one of the more obvious species of slime mould
or Myxogastria
, typically seen in its reproductive phase as a white 'swelling' on standing dead trees in the spring, or on large pieces of fallen wood. Alder (Alnus glutinosa) is a common host.
It is recorded throughout Scotland, England, Wales, Ireland, Europe, and in Mexico.
, a dry and dormant state, awaiting the return of wet conditions.
The plasmodial
phase is mobile and is multi-nucleate, formed by the fusion of single cells and typically amoeboid
in its movements, through cytoplasmic streaming
.
The sporangial
or aethalial phase of this slime mould is spherical, elongate or globular, 50 to 80 mm, and is at first highly glutinous in appearance, resembling small slug eggs. Later a smooth white and silvery surface develops, which eventually splits to expose a brown spore mass beneath. An aethalium is a term relating to slime moulds, referring to the relatively big, plump, pillow-shaped fruiting body, formed by the aggregation of plasmodia into a single functional body. The term comes from the Greek for thick smoke or soot; so named from the smokelike spores.
, Mexico, the very young aethalia are collected, fried, and eaten.
in Mexico. Slime molds are one of several likely causers of the phenomenon known as Star jelly
.
Slime mould
Slime mold or mould is a broad term describing protists that use spores to reproduce. Slime molds were formerly classified as fungi, but are no longer considered part of this kingdom....
or Myxogastria
Myxogastria
Myxogastria is a class of Mycetozoa, itself a grouping of slime molds, that contains 5 orders, 14 families, 62 genera, and 888 species. Notable examples within Myxogastria include the genus Stemonitis and the species Physarum polycephalum...
, typically seen in its reproductive phase as a white 'swelling' on standing dead trees in the spring, or on large pieces of fallen wood. Alder (Alnus glutinosa) is a common host.
Habitats and distribution
E. lycoperdon grows typically on dead alder branches, logs, and stumps in wet places beside rivers, streams and wetlands; it is also found growing on dead elm, beech, poplar, hawthorn, elder, hornbeam, hazel, and pine trees often after late frosts in spring and in the autumn.It is recorded throughout Scotland, England, Wales, Ireland, Europe, and in Mexico.
Feeding
The plasmodial phase feeds by phagocytosis upon bacteria, fungi, moulds, yeasts, inorganic particles and spores. If conditions become too dry, the plasmodium changes into a sclerotiumSclerotium
A sclerotium is a compact mass of hardened fungal mycelium containing food reserves. One role of sclerotia is to survive environmental extremes. In some higher fungi such as ergot, sclerotia become detached and remain dormant until a favorable opportunity for growth. Other fungi that produce...
, a dry and dormant state, awaiting the return of wet conditions.
Life cycle
The slime mould has two phases to its life cycle: an actively feeding plasmodial stage and a reproductive sporangial stage.The plasmodial
Slime mould
Slime mold or mould is a broad term describing protists that use spores to reproduce. Slime molds were formerly classified as fungi, but are no longer considered part of this kingdom....
phase is mobile and is multi-nucleate, formed by the fusion of single cells and typically amoeboid
Amoeboid
Amoeboids are single-celled life-forms characterized by an irregular shape."Amoeboid" and "amœba" are often used interchangeably even by biologists, and especially refer to a creature moving by using pseudopodia. Most references to "amoebas" or "amoebae" are to amoeboids in general rather than to...
in its movements, through cytoplasmic streaming
Cytoplasmic streaming
Cytoplasmic streaming is the directed flow of cytosol and organelles around large fungal and plant cells. This movement aids in the delivery of nutrients, metabolites, genetic information, and other materials to all parts of the cell...
.
The sporangial
Sporangium
A sporangium is an enclosure in which spores are formed. It can be composed of a single cell or can be multicellular. All plants, fungi, and many other lineages form sporangia at some point in their life cycle...
or aethalial phase of this slime mould is spherical, elongate or globular, 50 to 80 mm, and is at first highly glutinous in appearance, resembling small slug eggs. Later a smooth white and silvery surface develops, which eventually splits to expose a brown spore mass beneath. An aethalium is a term relating to slime moulds, referring to the relatively big, plump, pillow-shaped fruiting body, formed by the aggregation of plasmodia into a single functional body. The term comes from the Greek for thick smoke or soot; so named from the smokelike spores.
Spores
The spores are brown, subglobose or ovoid, punctate (spotted), 5–7 µm in size and dispersed by wind and rain until only a few delicate threads of the sporangium remain, resembling soft foam padding.Insect associates
A slime mold fly, Epicypta testata is known to lay its eggs within the spore mass and puparia can be seen with their tips protruding. The adult fly lays its eggs within the plasmodial phase, feeding upon it and the larval phase then hatches out as worm-like larvae which pupate and then hatch, carrying and dispersing some of the spores which have stuck to them.Edibility
Though not generally considered edible, E. lycoperdon is not toxic. In VeracruzVeracruz
Veracruz, formally Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave , is one of the 31 states that, along with the Federal District, comprise the 32 federative entities of Mexico. It is divided in 212 municipalities and its capital city is...
, Mexico, the very young aethalia are collected, fried, and eaten.
Folklore
E. lycoperdon is named "caca de luna" or "Moon's excrement" by the locals in the state of VeracruzVeracruz
Veracruz, formally Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave , is one of the 31 states that, along with the Federal District, comprise the 32 federative entities of Mexico. It is divided in 212 municipalities and its capital city is...
in Mexico. Slime molds are one of several likely causers of the phenomenon known as Star jelly
Star jelly
Star jelly is a gelatinous substance, which, according to folklore, is deposited on the earth during meteor showers. It is described as a translucent or grayish white gelatin which tends to evaporate shortly after having fallen...
.