Diderma hemisphaericum
(Bull.) Hornem.
Description:
SPOROCARPS: scattered, flat, discoid, on a central stalk, 0.6 to 1.2 mm. diam., occasionally sessile and confluent, chalk-white; sporangial wall of two layers on the upper, flat surface; the outer a smooth crust composed of globular lime-granules, 1-3 µm diam., easily separating and breaking away from the more persistent, membranous inner layer; under surface rugose, thickened.

STALK: ochraceous or brownish, 0.2 to 0.8 mm. long, thick, furrowed with wrinkles which are continued over the flat under side of the sporangium, densely cal careous, often seated on a white hypothallus.

COLUMELLA: consisting of the broad, thickened base of the sporangium, reddish or brownish, charged with calcareous deposits, usually in the form of nodules or large rhomboidal crystals.

CAPILLITIUM: of slender, colorless threads, branching and anastomosing, or of violet-brown threads sparingly branched except at the pale extremities.

SPORES: pale violet-brown, nearly smooth,
7-9 n diam.
PLASMODIUM: opaque white.
HABITAT: On dead wood.

DISTRIBUTION: Auckland, Mid Canterbury.
Macro images:
Diderma hemisphaericum
Scale bar
Scale= 1.25 mm.
 
Diderma hemisphaericum
Scale bar
Scale= 1.25 mm.
 
Diderma hemisphaericum
Scale bar
Scale= 1.25 mm.
 
Diderma hemisphaericum
Scale bar
Scale= 1.25 mm.
 
Hidden Forest
Slime Moulds