Myxomycetes associated with arid habitats in northeastern South Australia

Abstract

The myxomycetes associated with samples of dead plant material collected from arid habitats in northeastern South Australia were investigated with the use of the moist chamber culture technique. Since myxomycetes are usually associated with relatively moist conditions, one would not anticipate them to be very common in arid areas. However, 69% of the cultures prepared yielded some evidence (either plasmodia or fruiting bodies) of myxomycetes. A total of 26 species of myxomycetes representing 10 different genera were recorded, including one species (<i>Licea succulenticola</i>) not previously reported from Australia and 11 others that appear to represent new records for South Australia. The distribution of the myxomycetes associated with substrates in arid areas of northeastern South Australia is discussed.