Category Archives: Fungi and Slime Molds

Split Gill Fungus

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Schizophyllum commune Split Gill Gills Dry (l) Gills Wet(r)

Split Gill Gills Dry (l) Gills Wet (r)

Split Gill Fungus (Schizophyllum commune) is one of the world’s most widely spread fungi. Occurring on six continents (except Antarctica), it grows anywhere that dead wood is found. John Raper of Harvard studied this fungus for many years and tried without success to divide it into additional species. The genus does contain a few other local species.

Schizophyllum commune Split Gill upper - lower Wet

Split Gill upper – lower Wet

The fruiting bodies are long lived and –in spite of their delicate appearance–can last several years. The gills roll back in dry weather, protecting their spores. David Arora in his book Mushrooms Demystified reports that a specimen was rehydrated and shed spores after being stored for 50-years in a tube. The split gills are distinctive, changing color and shape as they dry and are rehydrated. They radiate from a single point on the undersides of the small shelf-like fruiting bodies. The white to light-brown, hairy upper surface appears to be leathery and inrolls the lower surface.

Schizophyllum commune Split Gill upper - lower Dry

Split Gill upper – lower Dry

Split Gill fungus has over 28,000 different sexes. This encourages crossing with non-relative fungus. See Tom Volk’s excellent “Fungus of the Month” page for more details.

Schizophyllum commune Split Gill Dry

Split Gill Dry

I have seen this fungus in several locations in Michigan, and it can be found throughout the winter. Look for it on you winter walks. I thank “Mushroom Mary” for showing me my first specimens.

Schizophyllum commune Split Gill

Split Gill (ul) wet to (lr)dry

Copyright 2013 by Donald Drife

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Wolf’s Milk Slime Mold

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Slime Molds are bizarre life forms that were classified as fungus but are now placed in their own kingdom. At one time, every living thing was placed in either the plant or animal kingdom. Currently, most scientists recognize six kingdoms: Plants, Animals, Protists (slime molds and algae), Fungi, Archaebacteria (bacteria found mainly in thermal vents), and Eubacteria; the remaining bacteria.

Wolf's Milk Slime Mold, (Lycogala epidendrum)

Wolf’s Milk Slime Mold, Cummingston Park, Royal Oak

Slime molds belong in the phylum Myxomycota. John Tyler Bonner writes, “[Myxomycetes are] no more than a bag of amoebae encased in a thin slime sheath, yet they manage to have various behaviors that are equal to those of animals who possess muscles and nerves with ganglia—that is, simple brains.”

The life cycle is complex. An over simplified description of the life cycle is that the spores develop into single cell organisms that then congregate into a fruiting mass producing spores. (If you desire a technical description of the life cycle see the UBC Botanical Garden Website)

Lycogala epidendrum, Wolf's Milk Slime Mold

Lycogala epidendrum, Wolf’s Milk Slime Mold

Wolf’s Milk Slime Mold (Lycogala epidendrum) is also called Toothpaste Slime Mold. It is circumpolar in the northern hemisphere, ranging throughout Michigan. The fruiting bodies congregate on logs (epidendrum means growing on logs), normally in the fall in Michigan. This is a slow moving slime mold taking days to change shape.

The small size of this slime mold makes it easy to overlook but its bright orange color draws your eye. It is easy to mistake this slime mold for a developing fungus of some kind. After a few days this bright orange color becomes chocolate brown and the slime mold disperses spores. Get out and look for it before the days get too cold.

Lycogala epidendrum Wolf's Milk Slime Mold

Wolf’s Milk Slime Mold