Bear Mountain: Appalachian Trail / Paradise Lane Loop - In The Under Mountain Trees

This section of the forest is older and richer than that near the parking lot.

6/29/2003

Bear Mountain: Appalachian Trail / Paradise Lane Loop - White Scrambled Egg Slime

More commonly recognized by its yellow color, this variant of the common Scrambled Egg Slime (Fuligo septica) is engaging in the interesting behaviour of crawling up from the wood onto a living plant. Slime molds such as this form from millions of tiny ameobae, which live as separate organisms until it is time to fruit. In this case a small fly seems to be feeding on the slime.

See also…

• Arthropods and Insects
• Slime Molds

6/29/2003

Bear Mountain: Appalachian Trail / Paradise Lane Loop - Slime Molds

The Wolf's Milk Slime (Lycogala epidendrum) is a pinkish mushroom formed from thousands of tiny roving ameobic microorganisms at one stage of their life cycle. It exudes a pinkish slime when broken.

The Yellow Fuzz Cone Slime (Hemitrycha clavata) consists of tiny stalked mushrooms that turn into fuzzy puffs when they have emitted their spores.

See also…

• Slime Molds

6/29/2003

Bear Mountain: Appalachian Trail / Paradise Lane Loop - Closeup Slime

The Wolf's Milk Slime (Lycogala epidendrum) is here shown in a closeup that reveals the textured surface. These blobs are less than a half inch across.

The Yellow Fuzz Cone Slime (Hemitrycha clavata) is also in this closeup. The stems and fluff are constructed by the ameobic free moving organisms of the plasmodium in order to reproduce.

See also…

• Slime Molds

6/29/2003

Bear Mountain: Appalachian Trail / Paradise Lane Loop - Laurel Trunks

These vine-like stems are the supports for the Mountain Laurel, which, at this level (at the base of the mountain) at this time of year is not currently flowering, but higher upslope is.

6/29/2003

Connecticut