Domain Eukaryota > Phylum Amoebozoa > Class Myxogastria > Order Physarales > Family Physaraceae.
Members of the genus are protozoa but commonly treated as Fungi.
The plasmodial slime mould is commonly known as the Dog’s vomit slime mould.
It is a common slime mould.
It grows on rotten wood, bark mulch and occasionally on living plants.
The plasmoidal phase is a bright yellow or white slime resembling scrambled eggs.
This can be up to 20 cm wide and around 2 cm thick.
In the spore forming stage the plasmodium contracts to form a cushion like mass.
This aethalium can be a few mm up to 30 cm wide.
The mass of fused sporaangia may be yellow, reddish or brown.
They may have a dense outer crust or none at all.
Fuligo septica aethalia are the largest produced by any slime mould.
As the spores mature the surface becomes hard and brittle then cracks.
The internal spore mass is initially yellow but matures to a dull black or deep purplish-brown.
The dark spores have spines on the outer surface.
J.F.
