Urban Nature Pictures 6/26

[urbpan]

The trailing edge of dog vomit slime mold. Conditions appear to be ideal for the appearance of this myxomycete this week. I've seen it in four or five different locations, on stumps as well as the usual woodchip habitats I'm used to seeing it on. toThe 365 urban species entry for this species (linked above) is from two weeks from this date. More or less the same, I suppose. I think heat and humidity must be the factors that induce it to appear.

Comments

[txtriffidranch.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure about there, but I've noticed that the biggest factor for its appearance out here is a sudden calm as well. The slime mold tends to dry out very rapidly out here, and it's usually ready to sporulate when we get our sudden sporadic rainstorms. Combine that with the steady south wind we get between May and November, and those quick rainstorms guarantee a maximal spread of spores before ants and sowbugs can eat them.

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

Interesting. We've had thunderstorms every three or four days or so in Boston. I hadn't noticed the connection between that and the dog vomit but it makes sense.