Close-up of Candyfloss Slime Mould

e6filmuser

Arcyria denudata is one of the commonest slime moulds on rotten wood. However, this is the only colony of this species I have ever found on a leaf (fallen Sycamorel eaf).

This fruiting body (sporocarp) is ripe and starting to expand the mesh-like spore-bearing structure, the capitilium. You can just make out the spirals on its threads in the first image.

The second image shows a rare, clear view of the cap which usually persists on the top of the expanded capitilium.

The third image shows the stalk (ca 1mm tall), bearing the cup-like calyculus. The capitilium has become separated, something which happens more readily in some other species.

Olympus EM-1 (manual mode), Laowa 25mm f2.8 2.5x-5x ultra-macro at f11, twin TTL flash, hand-held.

I hope to upload stereos tomorrow.

Harold