Physarum pusillum
(Berk. & M.A. Curtis) G. Lister 1911
Description:
SPOROCARPS: stalked, gregarious but occasionally scattered, 1 to 2 mm tall. globose or slightly flattened and then somewhat umbilicate below, erect or slightly inclined, 0.4-0.7 in diameter.

STALK: usually slender but occasionally relatively stout, cylindrical or slightly narrowed towards the apex, calcareous rugulose or smooth, reddish brown,merging into the base of the spootheca, 0.5-1.5 mm long.

HYPOTHALLUS: discoid, reddish brown, sometimes in conspicuous.

PERIDIUM: consisting of a single layer, membranous, rugose, encrusted with white or greyish white lime above, thickened and reddish brown towards the base. Columella absent.

CAPILLITIUM: variable, consisting of white, angular and scattered lime nodes connected by hyaline branched threads. The later sometimes scanty and the capillitium then appearing badhamioid.

SPORES: Black in mass, liliaceous brown by transmitted light, minutely warted, 10 - 12 µm in diameter.

PLASMODIUM: Watery white.
HABITAT: Leaf litter.

DISTRIBUTION: Cosmopolitan, known from Auckland, Coromandel, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Wellington, Nelson and Southland
Macro images:
Physarum pusillum
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Scale= 0.7 mm.
This species loves to climb up on things so if there is a small object available like a seed pod or even a dead insect then up it goes. As can be seen in several of my photos.
Physarum pusillum
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Scale= 0.5 mm.
 
Physarum pusillum
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Scale= 0.35 mm.
 
Physarum pusillum
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Scale= 0.4 mm.
 
Physarum pusillum
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Scale= 0.45 mm.
Micro images:
Physarum pusillum
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Magnification = 1000x
Spores: Liliaceous brown, minutely warted, 10 - 12 µm in diameter.
 
Hidden Forest
Slime Moulds