<< Previous Next >>

Lycogala epidendrum


Lycogala epidendrum
Photo Information
Copyright: yiannis christofides (yiannis) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 625 W: 0 N: 770] (5400)
Genre: Protoctista
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2013-06-21
Categories: Single-celled
Camera: Olympus E3
Exposure: f/10.0, 1/400 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2013-07-12 8:51
Viewed: 3162
Points: 46
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Lycogala epidendrum, commonly known as wolf's milk, is a cosmopolitan species of plasmodial slime mould in the Reticulariaceae, class Myxogastria, often mistaken for a fungus.

The Myxogastria is a fascinating grouping of slime moulds that contains a recognized 60 or so genera and about 900 species. Lycogala epidendrum is cosmopolitan in distribution, like many other slime moulds. Lycogala epidendrum goes through a number of rather incredible morphological phases as it matures. Myxomycetes are perplexing organisms that demonstrate characteristics associated with both animals and fungi. Here are some of the highlights of their strange life cycle:

Members of the Myxogastria begin their life cycle after spores germinate. Haploid myxamoebae or myxaflagelletes are produced. Myxamoebae (crawling unicellular organisms) are produced if conditions are dryer and myxaflagelletes (swimming unicellular organisms) are produced if conditions are considerably moist. These unicellular organisms, move around on a substrate such as this rotting log as the devour bacteria/fungal spores/dissolved substances. As the unicellular forms gorge themselves, they can asexually reproduce through cell division. Depending on environmental conditions, two paths of development are followed. If there is a drastic change to undesirable conditions, these unicellular forms may begin a resting phase, morphing into thin-shelled forms known as microcysts. Microcysts can survive for periods of up to a year or more, until conditions change for the better. As conditions improve, they will become active monocellular amoeba-like forms once again!

If conditions stay suitable, these unicellular organisms will start to mate once they encounter the correct mating type. The result is the fusion of protoplasm/nuclei into diploid zygotes, which develop multiple nuclei through nuclear division (not cell division). These multinucleated monocellular organisms are known as plasmodium, which can be seen with the naked eye. The plasmodium continues to grow as it gains nourishment through phagocytosis.
lousat, Hotelcalifornia, senn, Hormon_Manyer, Ishi, ramthakur, anel, samiran88, cobra112, Miss_Piggy, marius-secan has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekNature members may write critiques.
Discussions
None
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 6595 W: 89 N: 15659] (65489)
  • [2013-07-12 9:05]

Hi Yiannis,am interesting capture from the Trentino mountains,i never seen something like this and your perfect pic is the best way to understand how is made and what is in your precious note,very good work,i like it! Have a nice weekend and thanks,Luciano

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5137 W: 166 N: 13121] (49139)
  • [2013-07-12 10:11]

Hello Yiannis,
What a special photo. Excellent sharpness and beautiful natural colours of this Wolf's Milk. A very remarkable name. Interesting.
Have a good weekend,
Peter

Hello Yiannis,
I haven't seen before this 'Wolf's Milk' specie.Thanks for showing us such interesting specie.Nice color and well POV.
Thanks for sharing,
Kind regards,
Srikumar

Ciao Yiannis, lovely composition with interesting specie, excellent clarity, splendid light and wonderful natural colors, very well done, my friend, have a good week end, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • iti Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 577 W: 0 N: 650] (7939)
  • [2013-07-12 12:28]

Hi Yiannis,
Very nice and interesting fungi. Amazing colors with
excellent detail and good composition.
Have a good weekend
Regards Jiri.

  • Great 
  • senn Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 58 W: 2 N: 155] (1384)
  • [2013-07-12 14:34]

here is another stunner yiannis, .. look like a still life capture with magnificent a compo and great shapes .. well done mate

regards, nuri :)

Hi Yiannis,
Beautiful photo of this very common Myxomycota - which doesn't belong to the kingdom of fungi anymore. Beautiful sharpness + colors, but first of all a pleasant composition with the many pinkish orange balls. Great job. Congrats.
Best regaards, László

Hello Yiannis,
照的清晰 構圖美麗 背景好看 謝謝分享
STONE

  • Great 
  • tuslaw Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2754 W: 282 N: 4931] (19883)
  • [2013-07-12 19:34]

Hello Yiannis,
Now this is something new and interesting!! Slime molds always intrigue me, as it can change appearance drastically from day to day.
A beautiful specimen and shown in exceptional detail and beautiful vivid yet natural colors. Great presentation!!
Ron

amazing creature, thanks for teaching us about it, greetings Ori

  • Great 
  • Ishi Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 298 W: 21 N: 1943] (13387)
  • [2013-07-13 0:11]

Shalom Yianni,

What a beautiful aesthetically pleasing photograph. Fascinating organism, very well presented in picture and note. The only thing missing is some indication of the scale of those blobs.

TFS. Have a great weekend,

Ishi

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3097 W: 109 N: 12399] (52850)
  • [2013-07-13 1:49]

Hello Yiannis.
Lovely lighting, composition, colours, BG and excellent sharpness, all contribute to make this a superb shot of a group of fungi that I have never seen before.Regards Siggi

Classical documentation of this very attractive Slime Mould growing on old wood, Yiannis.
The colony of it within the frame is a beautiful arrangement done by mother nature.
The image is sharp and the colours please the eyes.
TFS
Ram

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 3053 W: 3 N: 8715] (40574)
  • [2013-07-13 5:39]

hello Yiannis,
Very special and interesting picture. Well presented and with a good note, may be a little bit difficult to understand for laymen. The kind of posting I appreciate a lot.
Kind regards
Anne

Hello Yiannis,
Very interesting mould, so vibrant colour.
great clarity and true colour with good composition.
best wishes,
samiran

This is great MF Yannis! Just like an exciting paint. Razor details perfect sharp and contrast. Well done indeed.

Roberto

Ενδιαφέρουσα και παράξενη μορφή ζωής Γιάννη! Φαίνεται ότι το ταξίδι σου στην Ιταλία ήταν πολύ παραγωγικό. Η φωτογραφία σου όπως πάντα είναι εντυπωσιακή. Εξαιρετική σύνθεση, φανταστικά χρώματα και πολύ καλή ευκρίνεια.
Καλή σου μέρα,
Χριστόδουλος

Hallo Yiannis
Lichen and fungi is always interest me. The colour and contrast is really great showing the detail of them so beautifully. The subject is well seen and well taken - wonderful composition and colours. Great note explaining what I'm looking at as well..
Thanks for sharing. Best regards.
Anna

Hello Yiannis,
Pin sharp photo with amazing clarity, outstanding focus and fantastic details. I like this excellent capture of a nice plant with such amazing shape....as usual a wonderful composition with perfect focus and razor sharp details.
Marius.

Hello Yiannis,
Interesting composition,very impressive colours and great sharpness.
Thanks.
regards,
Joy

Hello Yiannis, one word - fantastic !

Excellent Yiannis, nice POV
Ferran

Hi Yiannis,
Wonderful presentation of these interesting things (I don't know what they are actually)! Impressive image of these red round egg like things on a trunk. Excellent sharp details, nice lighting and splendid colors. Thanks and regards!
John

hallo Yiannis
Missing this picture !!!!

this is a beauty with good details and beautiful colours
i like this one
thanks gr lou

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF