Mucilago crustacea P. Micheli ex F.H. Wigg.
(Dog Vomit Slime Mould)

Taxonomic hierarchy:
SpeciesMucilago crustacea (Dog Vomit Slime Mould)
FamilyDIDYMIACEAE (a family of slime moulds)
OrderPHYSARIDA (an order of slime moulds)
ClassMYXOGASTREA (slime moulds, myxomycetes)
SubphylumMYCETOZOA (a subphylum of slime moulds)
PhylumAMOEBOZOA (amoebae and cellular slime moulds)
SubkingdomSARCOMASTIGOTA (a subkingdom of protozoans)
KingdomPROTOZOA (protists, single-celled organisms)
DomainEukaryota (eukaryotes)
LifeBIOTA (living things)
Records of Mucilago crustacea (Dog Vomit Slime Mould) :
1: Mucilago crustacea (Dog Vomit Slime Mould)
22 Sep 2004 OSGR: SO71 51° 50’ N, 2° 20’ W Vice County: West Glos (VC 34) England
2 fruitbodies on dock and Nettle stems
Image 1: Close-upImage 2: Close-up (2)Image 3: In situImage 4: In situ (2)Image 5: Fruitbody - close-up - enlargedImage 6: Crystalline peridium - magnifiedImage 7: Crystalline peridium - magnified (2)
2: Mucilago crustacea (Dog Vomit Slime Mould)
1 Oct 2000 OSGR: SU26 51° 20’ N, 1° 40’ W Vice County: North Wilts (VC 7) England
on grass
Image 1: Fruitbody - immatureImage 2: Fruitbody - immature - close-upImage 3: Fruitbody - immature - close-up (2)Image 4: Fruitbody - matureImage 5: Fruitbody - mature (2)Image 6: Fruitbody - mature - close-upImage 7: Fruitbody - mature - close-up (2)Image 8: Fruitbody - mature - close-up (3)Image 9: Fruitbody - mature - magnifiedImage 10: Fruitbody - mature - magnified (2)Image 11: Fruitbody - mature - magnified (3)Image 12: Fruitbody - mature - magnified (4)Image 13: Fruitbody - mature - magnified (5)Image 14: Capillitium and sporesImage 15: Crystalline plateImage 16: Spores - equatorial focusImage 17: Spores - surface focus
3: Mucilago crustacea (Dog Vomit Slime Mould)
6 Oct 1999 OSGR: SU46 51° 20’ N, 1° 20’ W Vice County: Berks (VC 22) England
on twigs and grass stems
Image 1: FruitbodyImage 2: Fruitbody (2)Image 3: Fruitbody - broken open to show sporesImage 4: Fruitbody - close-up of individual sporangia - broken open to show spore massImage 5: Fruitbody - close-up of individual sporangia - broken open to show spore mass (2)Image 6: Fruitbody - close-up of individual sporangia - broken open to show spore mass (3)Image 7: Fruitbody - close-up of individual sporangia - broken open to show spore mass (4)Image 8: Fruitbody - close-up of individual sporangia - broken open to show spore mass (5)Image 9: Fruitbody - close-up of individual sporangia - intactImage 10: CapillitiumImage 11: Capillitium (2)Image 12: Capillitium (3)Image 13: Capillitium (4)Image 14: Crystalline fragment of peridiumImage 15: Crystalline fragments of peridiumImage 16: Spores and capillitium attached to peridial fragmentsImage 17: Spores and crystalline fragments of peridiumImage 18: Spores and crystalline fragments of peridium (2)Image 19: Spores - focussed at equatorImage 20: Spores - focussed at surfaceImage 21: Spores - focussed at surface and equator

Identification Works

AuthorYearTitleSource
Ing, B. 1987 First Steps - a Beginner’s Guide: Why not look at Myxomycetes? Mycologist Vol 01 (4): 162-163.

Mucilago crustacea (Dog Vomit Slime Mould) may also be included in identification literature listed under the following higher taxa:

NBNNBN (data.nbn.org.uk) has a distribution map for Mucilago crustacea (Dog Vomit Slime Mould)
BioInfoBioInfo (www.bioinfo.org.uk) has 3 host/parasite/foodplant and/or other relationships for Mucilago crustacea (Dog Vomit Slime Mould)

A very common myxomycete producing pale masses encrusting the stems of trees or grasses. At first it resembles dog’s vomit, but within 24 hours the spores mature and then it is more often mistaken for insect eggs. Mainly confined to calcareous areas.

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