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 Trichia contorta
SynonymsLycogala contortum
BiostatusPresent in region - Indigenous. Non endemic
Article: Stephenson, S.L. (2003). Myxomycetes of New Zealand. Fungi of New Zealand. Ngā Harore o Aotearoa 3: xiv + 238 p. Hong Kong: Fungal Diversity Press.
Description: Fruiting body a sessile (or very rarely short-shalked) sporangium, closely gregarious to scattered, pulvinate or occasionally short-plasmodiocarpous, dull yellowish brown to dark reddish brown, occasionally almost black, 0.5–0.8 mm in diameter. Stalk, when present, black. Hypothallus membranous, colourless to brown, often inconspicuous. Peridium membranous or cartilaginous, more or less thickened with granular material. Capillitium ochraceous or dull yellow, the elaters simple or sometimes branched, 3–5 µm in diameter, bearing 4 or 5 even or irregular spiral bands, smooth or spiny or with long, spine-like processes, the tips often more or less swollen and with one or two curved spines present. Spores bright ochraceous in mass, pale yellow by transmitted light, minutely spiny, 10–13 µm in diameter. Plasmodium watery white.
Habitat: Decaying wood or bark; occasionally fruiting on dead leaves, other types of plant debris, and bryophytes.
Distribution: Widely distributed in temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere (Martin & Alexopoulos 1969). Not reported in print as occurring in New Zealand but known from specimens collected in Taupo, Westland and Fiordland..
Notes: Trichia contorta is a highly variable species in which a number of varieties have been recognized (Lado & Pando 1997). However, it can be distinguished from other sessile species of Trichia by the dull yellow-brown to brown colour of mature fruiting bodies, the often rather irregular spiral bands on the elaters, and the spine-like processes sometimes found at the tips of elaters. Interestingly, T. contorta is not uncommon in alpine habitats, although it is not a member of the special ecological group of “snowbank” myxomycetes associated with such habitats in late spring and early summer (Stephenson & Johnston 2003).
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