Physarum straminipes Lister (1898: 163)

Moreno, G., Castillo, A. & Thüs, H., 2024, Critical revision of Physarales and Reticulariales (Myxomycetes) at the Natural History Museum London (BM), Phytotaxa 644 (2), pp. 79-101 : 98

Physarum straminipes Lister (1898: 163)

Lectotype (designated by Lado & Wrigley de Basanta 2018):— UNITED KINGDOM. England: Bedfordshire, Luton, Chaul End , 51.888ºN 0.456ºW, 6 May 1897 B.M. 1845 [ BM001089835 !], + two historic slides, L:B.M.30A, engraved “838”, [ BM001089202 !], and “1” [ BM001089201 !], + one freshly prepared slide, s.n. [ BM001247534 !]. Studied syntype:— UNITED KINGDOM. England: Dorset, Lyme Regis, Highcliff , Mar 1898, A. Lister, B.M. 2078 [ BM001247530 !] .

The lectotype is a collection by the Listers, SEM observations confirm that it is in good condition and shows all characters which are seen as characteristic for this species.

This species, which usually grows on straw and dead leaves, is characterised by its sporocarps in clusters and dark polyhedric spores, with strong spines towards the centre of the polyhedron face. The stalk usually appears as an extension of the hypothallus. A species with a similar spore morphology is Badhamia gracilis (T. Macbr.) T. Macbr. , however its capillitium is badhamioid rather than physaroid, and its spore ornamentation is not as marked. The latter species grows mostly on succulent plants and some authors consider it a synonym of Badhamia melanospora Speg. ( Lado 2005 –2023).