Stemonaria longa
(Peck) Nann. -Bremek. , R. Sharma and Y. Yamam
Description:
SPORANGIA: Densely clustered, forming fairly large colonies hanging in long tufts, stalked, narrowly cylindrical, elongate and slender, flexuose or drooping, 20 to 50 mm. long, black.

PERIDIUM: evanescent.

STALK: Very slender, 1 to 3 mm. long, black, rising from a well-developed, membranous hypothallus.

COLUMELLA: continued nearly to the apex of the sporangium, tapering in thickness to very thin in the upper part, where it is wavy or zigzag.

CAPILLITIUM: A lax network of dark brown threads, the terminal branch lets extending outwards, rigid, free, forking at acute angles.

NOTES: The spores arc very much like those of Stemonitis fusca. The long, drooping, narrow sporangia cannot be mistaken. This is only the second collection found in New Zealand making it an uncommon species oddly it does not fit the official description very well.

SYNONYMS: Symphytocarpus longus (Peck) Nann

SPORES: Rather dark greyish or brownish violet, 8-10 µm diam., spinulose, the spines forming a close reticulation.

PLASMODIUM: Bright yellow.

HABITAT: On dead wood.

DISTRIBUTION: Cosmopolitan, known only from Auckland.
Macro images:
Stemonaria longa
Scale bar
Scale= 6 mm.
 
Stemonaria longa
Scale bar
Scale= 6 mm.
 
Stemonaria longa
Scale bar
Scale= 6 mm.
Micro images:
Stemonaria longa
Scale bar
Magnification = 100x
View of the Capillitium.
Stemonaria longa
Scale bar
Magnification = 400x
Capillitium: Ending in free ends.
Stemonaria longa
Scale bar
Magnification = 400x
Spores: Dark grayish or brownish violet, 8-10 µm diam., spinulose, the spines forming a close reticulation
 
 
Hidden Forest
Slime Moulds