For the first time, nature admirers and visitors to the Latvian National Museum of Natural History will have the opportunity to see myxomycetes (also known as slime moulds), which are not fungi at all, but also resemble animals, in photographs. The images will bring the viewers into the colourful world of slime moulds. They will also be able to study them up close through a magnifying glass.
From 21 June to 17 September, 2023 the Latvian National Museum of Natural History will host the exhibition “Myxomycetes in Latvia – beauty from plasmodium to spores”, created in collaboration with a researcher Julita Kluša and the Latvian Mycological Society.
Myxomycetes are not fungi. They have in common the fact that both reproduce by spores, but at the beginning of their lives, myxomycetes resemble animals, as the raw eggwhite-like plasmodium can move around in search of the best feeding site.
The exhibition celebrates the diversity of Latvia's myxomycetes and their research, which has developed rapidly. More than 100 new species are confirmed in the last five years, almost as many as previously were known in Latvia. All of the more than 200 species of myxomycetes found in Latvia have been given names in Latvian. The importance of myxomycetes in science is also confirmed by the fact that the Latvian National Museum of Natural History has started a myxomycetes collection.
The exhibition features 115 photographs by more than 20 authors, nature and slime mould`s enthusiasts, revealing more than 80 species of myxomycetes at different stages of development, from plasmodium to spore stage. The images show the spores and internal structures of the slime moulds at different magnifications – up to 1000x magnification. More than 70 species of myxomycetes collected by 17 slime mould`s enthusiasts can be studied using magnifying glass.
The organisers would like to express their sincere gratitude to everyone who has contributed to the exhibition.
Exhibition “Myxomycetes in Latvia – beauty from plasmodium to spores” 21.06.2023.–17.09.2023.
Opening hours:
Monday – closed
Tuesday – closed
Wednesday 10.00–17.00
Thursday 10.00–19.00
Friday 10.00–17.00
Saturday 11.00–17.00
Sunday 11.00–17.00
Admission (exhibition "Myxomycetes in Latvia – beauty from plasmodium to spores" + exhibition "Mushrooms 2023"):
Adults – 2,00 €
Seniors, students – 1,50 €*
Pupils – 1,00 €*
* ID required (student card, senior card etc.)
Admission to the museum + exhibition "Myxomycetes in Latvia – beauty from plasmodium to spores" + exhibition "Mushrooms 2023" (20% discount):
Adults – 4,40 €
Seniors, students – 3,20 €*
Pupils – 2,00 €*
* ID required (student card, senior card etc.)
Free admission – in accordance with the Latvian National Museum of Natural History service fees list.
Ukranian civilians can visit the Latvian National Museum of Natural History free of charge.