A known species, Physarum melleum, was found fruiting on living leaves of Dendrobium candidum, which was collected in China in 2004. Its morphological characters were revealed by light microscopy (LM), environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Character variations were distinguished by its olive-yellow peridium and its always thinner capillitium containing globulose granular material between the large calcareous nodes. The calcium carbonate granules, deposited on stalks, peridium and hypothallus as well as within stalks, were globose and smooth.


J Zhejiang Univ Sci B. 2007 Dec;8(12):896-9.

Zhang JZ, Liu LN, Fiore-Donno AM, Xu T.

Biotechnology Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310029, China; jzzhang@zju.edu.cn.