Metatrichia horrida

Tropical myxomycete with sessile sporocarps or with a very short, rudimentary stalk, densely grouped in crowded colonies, 0.3–0.6 mm in diameter by 0.5–0.8 mm tall, dark red with purple tints in mature specimens, with a short stalk (sometimes shared among several individuals), of the same colour with longitudinal ridges.

Peridium double, opaque, with irregular apical dehiscence and a convex operculum.

Capillitium sparse, with reddish-brown elaters 5–6 µm wide, ornamented with 3–4 spiral bands bearing abundant spines 3–6 µm long, with short pointed free ends.

Spores globose to subglobose, moderately thick-walled and minutely verruculose, reddish-ochre under the microscope, measuring 9–10 µm long by 8.5–9.5 µm wide, with the entire surface covered in tiny darker warts.

Herbarium material available: JTP2389/25.