Brefeldia maxima
| Brefeldia maxima | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Amoebozoa |
| Phylum: | Mycetozoa |
| Class: | Myxogastria |
| Order: | Stemonitida |
| Family: | |
| Genus: | |
| Species: | Brefeldia maxima (Fries) Rostaf. 1873 |
| Synonyms | |
| Licea perreptans (Berk.) (1848) | |
Brefeldia maxima is a species of non-parasitic plasmodial slime mold, and a member of the Myxomycetes class. It is commonly known as the Tapioca slime mold because of its peculiar pure white, Tapioca pudding-like appearance. A common species with a worldwide distribution, particulary in North America and Europe. It is often found on bark after heavy rain or excessive watering. Their spores are produced on or in aerial sporangia and are spread by wind, however beetles of the Lathridiidae family are also reported to disperse the spores. Bonner states that soil invertebrates and rain mainly disperse spores as they are sticky and unlikely to be carried by air currents.
Distribution
Found throughout the United Kingdom and common in Europe, Brefeldia maxima is known to be much rarer in North America.
Description and habitat
References
- Notes
- Sources
- Bonner, John T. (2009). The Social Amoeba. Princeton : Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0-691-13939-5
- Stephenson, Steven L & Stempen, Henry (2000). Myxcomcetes. A Handbook of Slime Molds. Portland : Timber Press. ISBN 0-88192-439-3.
Bibliography
- Bäumler,J.A. 1899: Notiz über Brefeldia. Verhandl.K.K.Zool.Bot.Gesellsch.Wien 49: 104-105.
- Hechler,J. 1980: Die Myxoflagellaten von Brefeldia maxima Rost. und ihre Nahrungsaufnahme mit Hilfe von Geißelbewegungen. Mitteilungen aus dem Institut für Allgemeine Botanik in Hamburg 17: 49-55.
- Lagerberg,T. 1945: Ett fynd av Brefeldia maxima (Fr.) Rost. Svensk botanisk tidskrift 39: 432-434.
- Lister,A. 1888: Notes on the plasmodium of Badhamia utricularis and Brefeldia maxima. Annals of botany 2: 1-24.
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