Synonyms: Chondrioderma exiguum, Physarum aurantium, Physarum aureum, Physarum luteum, Physarum nutans, Physarum striatum, Sphaerocarpus aurantius, Sphaerocarpus luteus, Sphaerocarpus viride, Sphaerocarpus viridis, Stemonitis aurantia, Stemonitis bicolor, Stemonitis viridis, Tilmadoche mutabilis, Tilmadoche viridis, Trichia aurantia, Trichia lutea, Trichia viridis.
Physarum viride is a species of slime mold that belongs to the phylum Mycetozoa. It is characterized by its bright green to yellow-green color and iridescent sheen. In East and Central Texas, Physarum viride has been found in moist, shaded areas with rich soil, often on decaying logs, stumps, and leaf litter. It typically fruits in the spring and fall, producing sporangia that are sessile or stalked, and ranges from 0.5-2 mm in diameter. The plasmodium is multinucleate and can grow up to several centimeters in size, allowing it to engulf and digest bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms. Physarum viride has been collected in various counties across East and Central Texas, including Travis, Bastrop, and Brazos counties, often in association with other Mycetozoa species.
Slime mold Physarum viride (?) on a fallen piece of wood in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, October 3, 2018
Raccoon Run, College Station, TX 77845, USA
Pine log covered by slime mold Physarum viride on Winters Bayou Trail in Sam Houston National Forest. Cleveland, Texas, September 28, 2019Lone Star Hiking Trail, Cleveland, TX 77328, USA
Physarum viride slime mold on a pine log on Winters Bayou Trail in Sam Houston National Forest. Cleveland, Texas, September 28, 2019Lone Star Hiking Trail, Cleveland, TX 77328, USA
Slime mold Physarum viride on a wet pine without bark on Caney Creek Trail (Little Lake Creek Loop Trail) in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, June 11, 2021Little Lake Creek Loop Trail, Montgomery, TX 77356, USA
Tiny heads of slime mold Physarum viride on a wet pine without bark on Caney Creek Trail (Little Lake Creek Loop Trail) in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, June 11, 2021Little Lake Creek Loop Trail, Montgomery, TX 77356, USA
Slime mold Physarum viride on a wet pine log on Richards Loop Trail in Sam Houston National Forest. Texas, December 28, 2021Little Lake Creek Loop Trail, Montgomery County, Texas, 77873, United States
Slime mold Physarum viride together with tiny Ascomycota on a wet pine log on Richards Loop Trail in Sam Houston National Forest. Texas, December 28, 2021Little Lake Creek Loop Trail, Montgomery County, Texas, 77873, United States
Stalked sporangia of slime mold Physarum viride under a microscope at lowest magnification, collected from brown rotten bark on oak log on Caney Creek Trail (Little Lake Creek Loop Trail) in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, May 12, 2022
Slime mold Physarum viride under a microscope at low magnification, collected from an oak log on Caney Creek Trail (Little Lake Creek Loop Trail) in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, May 12, 2022
Capillitium and spores of slime mold Physarum viride under a microscope with 40x objective, collected from an oak log on Caney Creek Trail (Little Lake Creek Loop Trail) in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, May 12, 2022
Details of capillitium and spores of slime mold Physarum viride under a microscope with 40x objective, collected from an oak log on Caney Creek Trail (Little Lake Creek Loop Trail) in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, May 12, 2022
Margin of a round sporangia of slime mold Physarum viride under a microscope, collected from an oak log on Caney Creek Trail (Little Lake Creek Loop Trail) in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, May 12, 2022
Tissues and spores of slime mold Physarum viride under a microscope, collected from an oak log on Caney Creek Trail (Little Lake Creek Loop Trail) in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, May 12, 2022
Sporotheca of slime mold Physarum viride under a microscope, collected from an oak log on Caney Creek Trail (Little Lake Creek Loop Trail) in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, May 12, 2022Observations of Physarum viride in East and Central Texas reveal the slime mold's presence on various substrates, including fallen wood, pine logs, and wet pine without bark. Multiple sightings were recorded in Sam Houston National Forest, specifically on Winters Bayou Trail, Caney Creek Trail, and Richards Loop Trail. The slime mold was found to grow on oak logs, pine logs, and brown rotten bark. Microscopic examinations revealed details of the slime mold's structure, including stalked sporangia, capillitium, spores, and sporotheca. Observations were made over several years, from 2018 to 2022, during different seasons, indicating the species' persistence in the region. The findings suggest that Physarum viride is widely distributed in East and Central Texas, preferring moist environments and decaying wood substrates.
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