Organisms of the Gila Wilderness
Presented in Association with the
Western New Mexico University Department
of Natural Sciences
Stemonitis smithii T. MacBr.
Stemonitis smithii is a slime mold with small, pale chocolate brown sporangia born on slender stalks. There are many species of Stemonitis, making species determination (which depends on spore morphology) difficult. This specimen has smooth spores that are not clustered. Stemonitis smithii is found on rotting wood, either in nature or on potting soil.
Keyed using: Taxonomic Keys and Plates from The Myxomycetes, Book by George W. Martin and Constantine J. Alexopoulos,
Digital work, reproduction of text and layout by Carlos Rojas & Carlos Lado. Found online at:
https://www.myxotropic.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/MyxoKeys.pdf
Please click on an image for a larger file.
Stemonitis smithii, stalked sporangia, collection Mark Donnell, on potting soil under grow lights with vascular plant cuttings; photo Russ Kleinman, November 16, 2022
Stemonitis smithii, stalked sporangia, collection Mark Donnell, on potting soil under grow lights with vascular plant cuttings; photo Russ Kleinman, November 16, 2022
Stemonitis smithii, stalked sporangia, collection Mark Donnell, on potting soil under grow lights with vascular plant cuttings; photo Russ Kleinman, November 16, 2022
Stemonitis smithii, capillitium and spores, collection Mark Donnell, on potting soil under grow lights with vascular plant cuttings; photo Russ Kleinman, November 16, 2022
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