All images: Meiji EMZ-13TR w/Sony DSC W5
In this last image, an area showing the slime sheath. Sometimes this sheath leaves a permenant track on the substrate, showing that the plasmodium had been there.
Phaneroplasmodium
Moderators: Chris S., Pau, Beatsy, rjlittlefield, ChrisR
Phaneroplasmodium
Greek phaneros = visible. The Plasmodium is of the like that I have never seen. Of course that could be due to the fact that the protoplasmic upheaval to produce the fruiting bodies had already began. This plasmodium may form fruiting bodies in the form of an aethalium, a cushioned shaped sessile structure, however when photographing with a 100mm macro, I did run across what seemed to be a small spherical shaped fruiting body, though no stalk was visible.
All images: Meiji EMZ-13TR w/Sony DSC W5
In this last image, an area showing the slime sheath. Sometimes this sheath leaves a permenant track on the substrate, showing that the plasmodium had been there.
All images: Meiji EMZ-13TR w/Sony DSC W5
In this last image, an area showing the slime sheath. Sometimes this sheath leaves a permenant track on the substrate, showing that the plasmodium had been there.
Well over twenty four hours has elapsed since finding the plasmodium and as usual, a remarkable transformation has occured, though not in the typical sense of the fruiting bodies that we are so acustomed to seeing.
Here an "aethalium" has formed from the plasmodium. I sort of suspected this but then again, as I stated earlier, I found a small yellow spherical body that for all purposes appeared to be that of what would become a stalked fruiting body. However now, that is not the case as you can see. The "aethalium" is presumed to be a completely fused mass of sporangia and are fairly large, well over several centimeters in diameter and the outer covering, unlike that of most fruiting bodies having the outer covering referred to as a peridium, that of the "aethalium" is termed as a "cortex."
The stereo or dissecting microscope reveals that at the base of the cortex, there appears structures somewhat resembling that of filopodia. The Penguin Dictionary of Biology, tenth edition, Copyrights © 1951 - 2001, references that a "filopodium" is a dynamic extention of the cell membrane, extending from the surfaces of migrating cells. Possibly a sensory apparatus used for testing adhesivness of surrounding cells or in this case, of my own assumption in regards to the plasmodium, the substrate. The plasmodium as we know, is a single, albeit a multinucleate cell, made up of fused or aggragated myxoamoebae.
Though these structures may not be vestiges of filopodia they do resemble them in a slight way. More than likey, these are nothing more than dried and stretched protoplasm.
Here an "aethalium" has formed from the plasmodium. I sort of suspected this but then again, as I stated earlier, I found a small yellow spherical body that for all purposes appeared to be that of what would become a stalked fruiting body. However now, that is not the case as you can see. The "aethalium" is presumed to be a completely fused mass of sporangia and are fairly large, well over several centimeters in diameter and the outer covering, unlike that of most fruiting bodies having the outer covering referred to as a peridium, that of the "aethalium" is termed as a "cortex."
The stereo or dissecting microscope reveals that at the base of the cortex, there appears structures somewhat resembling that of filopodia. The Penguin Dictionary of Biology, tenth edition, Copyrights © 1951 - 2001, references that a "filopodium" is a dynamic extention of the cell membrane, extending from the surfaces of migrating cells. Possibly a sensory apparatus used for testing adhesivness of surrounding cells or in this case, of my own assumption in regards to the plasmodium, the substrate. The plasmodium as we know, is a single, albeit a multinucleate cell, made up of fused or aggragated myxoamoebae.
Though these structures may not be vestiges of filopodia they do resemble them in a slight way. More than likey, these are nothing more than dried and stretched protoplasm.
As previously mentioned, what lies below the cortex is assumed to be a completely fused mass of sporangia. My curiosity getting the best of me, I decided to take a peek. Using a thin double edged razor blade, I removed a small section of the cortex to find this.
As you can see there is a large paste-like mass of spores beneath the cortex appearing to be convoluted. I was expecting to find a fibrous mass which included the spores but as you can see that was not the case. Perhaps when I take a look at the spore mass through the light microscope, I may find traces of a capillitium.
Going a little farther, I decided to attempt a couple of measurments. The cortex over all was L = 4.9 cm X W = 3.2 cm, the thickness of the cortex approx. 0.5mm and the spore mass at the center approx. 6mm thick. Only 4mm of thickness in the spore mass is shown in the photograph, after having removed the first section revealing the mass from the top. Also note that the cortex completely encases the spore mass, as evidenced by the photograph showing it to surround the bottom of mass also.
Lastly the spores themselves and I found no trace of a capillitium or at least not as of yet. As of the identity of the aethalium, I am still uncertain. I was sure that seeing the spores would lead me to a positive ID, however, the best I can assume for the moment is that the aethalium is a species of Mucilago, though no lime crystals were noted in the examination, those crystals being associated with the assumed species.
And so there we have it, from plasmodium, to aethalium (edit) , to cortex, to spore mass and finally the spores themselves over a 72 hr. period of random observation.
As you can see there is a large paste-like mass of spores beneath the cortex appearing to be convoluted. I was expecting to find a fibrous mass which included the spores but as you can see that was not the case. Perhaps when I take a look at the spore mass through the light microscope, I may find traces of a capillitium.
Going a little farther, I decided to attempt a couple of measurments. The cortex over all was L = 4.9 cm X W = 3.2 cm, the thickness of the cortex approx. 0.5mm and the spore mass at the center approx. 6mm thick. Only 4mm of thickness in the spore mass is shown in the photograph, after having removed the first section revealing the mass from the top. Also note that the cortex completely encases the spore mass, as evidenced by the photograph showing it to surround the bottom of mass also.
Lastly the spores themselves and I found no trace of a capillitium or at least not as of yet. As of the identity of the aethalium, I am still uncertain. I was sure that seeing the spores would lead me to a positive ID, however, the best I can assume for the moment is that the aethalium is a species of Mucilago, though no lime crystals were noted in the examination, those crystals being associated with the assumed species.
And so there we have it, from plasmodium, to aethalium (edit) , to cortex, to spore mass and finally the spores themselves over a 72 hr. period of random observation.
Last edited by Ken Ramos on Tue May 27, 2008 6:29 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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gpmatthews
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Thanks Graham. It was nice to have discovered a plasmodium that was right at home. So many times I encounter them in places where daily observations are quite impossible, making a study like this equally as impossible. Hopefully I can do this again with a different species but I still have a bit more to examine on this one though.
It was nice to have discovered a plasmodium that was right at home. So many times I encounter them in places where daily observations are quite impossible, making a study like this equally as impossible. Hopefully I can do this again with a different species but I still have a bit more to examine on this one though. First allow me to say that I am greatful that these spores are not that of Cordyceps, seeing as how the surrounding air within my modest room is full of them. I relish not the hope of having my central nervous system violated by a parasitic organism and having a large growth erupting from the back of my head or other extremeties. 
Besides, I am uneasy with heights and I have dentures. 
I was hoping for much better but this is, for the moment, the best that I could accomplish. Remind me never to investigate an aethalium again. However I did manage to find and somewhat photograph a few capillital elements. Note how the spores have changed in the last 24hrs. since the first image I posted of them. They have now taken on a concave appearance, though that does not mean that they will not still produce myxoamoebae. They are dormant and will last for many a year.
Besides, I am uneasy with heights and I have dentures. I was hoping for much better but this is, for the moment, the best that I could accomplish. Remind me never to investigate an aethalium again.
However I did manage to find and somewhat photograph a few capillital elements. Note how the spores have changed in the last 24hrs. since the first image I posted of them. They have now taken on a concave appearance, though that does not mean that they will not still produce myxoamoebae. They are dormant and will last for many a year.