Myxomycetes associated with pipevine, a temperate liana

Abstract

Pinevine (Aristolochia macrophylla Lam.), a climbing woody vine native to temperate forests of eastern North America, is morphologically similar to many of the lianas characteristic of moist tropical forests. In August 2010, samples of dead pinevine collected from a study site in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park were used to prepare a series of 50 moist chamber cultures. Thirty-seven of the 50 cultures (74%) yielded evidence (either plasmodia or fruiting bodies) of myxomycetes. Fourteen species representing seven genera were recorded, with members of the Trichiales (41% of all records) and Physarales (49% of all records) the most abundant.

Keywords

• Great Smoky Mountains National Park
• moist chamber cultures
• slime moulds
• woody vine