Facts
Slime molds tend not to actually be slimy, they sometimes
just look the part.
Slime molds were once considered fungi based on these facts:
1. They don't move, like
animals.
2. They don't have green chlorophyll, like
plants.
3. They are not as small as bacteria.
The millions of nuclei that make up a single plasmodial slime
mold divide at the same time. This interesting fact makes slime
mold a valuable tool for scientists studying mitosis.
Some spores are able to survive in their dormant stage for up to
75 years before germination.
Some people are concerned with the removal of slime molds from
sidewalks and plants thinking that the "mold" is harmful and
wonder how to get rid of it. The number one answer to that
is.... just let it be and it will disappear on its own! As Dr.
Tom Volk would say, "There's nothing you can do to get rid of it
short of getting rid of all the mulch and that might not even do
it. The easiest solution is to find a way to enjoy them."
Average speed of a moving slime mold: 1mm (yes, millimeter) per
hour.
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