Tubifera ferruginosa
(Batsch) J.F. Gmel. (1792
Description:
SPOROCARPS: A pseudoaethalium composed of numerous sessile sporangia crowded together, individual sporangia cylindrical to ovate, pale umber to reddish brown or purplish brown, up to 0.4 mm in diameter and 5 mm tall with the entire structure reaching 150 mm or more in size.

HYPOTHALLUS: well developed, membranous to spongy, colourless to pallid.

HYPOTHALLUS: membranous, thin, persisting in mature fruiting bodies except at the individual sporangia, where it tends to break away.

NOTES: This species is also known as as Tubulifera arachnoidea it very much depends on the refrance you are using as to which name is current.

SPORES: Umber brown in mass, pallid by transmitted light, finely reticulated over three quarters of the surface, 6 - 8 µm in diameter.

PLASMODIUM:
Watery and colourless, becoming milky white then changing through rose to brown.
HABITAT: Decaying wood or wood debris, occasionally on forest floor leaf litter.

DISTRIBUTION: Cosmopolitan, known from Auckland, Taranaki, Bay of Plenty, Wanganui, Gisborne, Marlborough Sounds, Southland
Macro images:
Tubifera ferruginosa
Scale bar
Scale= 6 mm.
 
Scale bar
Scale= 0.3 mm.
 
Tubifera ferruginosa
Scale bar
Scale= 3 mm.
 
Tubifera ferruginosa
Scale bar
Scale= 2 mm.
 
Tubulifera arachnoidea
Scale bar
Scale= 2.5 mm.
 
Tubulifera arachnoidea
Scale bar
Scale= 0.12 mm.
Very old fruiting body.
 
 
Hidden Forest
Slime Moulds