Trichia crateriformis is a slime mold species in the order Trichiida found in temperate areas throughout the world.

Martin in 1962 as Trichia craterioides after viewing a sample collected on dead wood from Riccarton Bush, South Island, New Zealand in June 1957.

Of these species, T. crateriformis is the only one with evenly distributed star-like spore ornamentation; the others have either irregular warts or long ridges.

These crests are created by the convergence of multiple bacula, small rod-like structures, less than .5 μm long, and they look curvy or irregular, often giving a star-like appearance.

This operculum is wider than the slime mold's spores at approximately 12 to 14 μm across, and has a granular texture unlike the smooth peridium.

[6][11] Most slime molds’ operculum and peridium have similar texture and color, so the stark differences between the two in T. crateriformis is noteworthy.

A 1986 SEM study hypothesized that this difference was attributable to a closer relationship between spore cleavage and operculum formation in the species.

[1] From this information, it seems T. crateriformis is distributed across temperate forests and is most often found on decaying wood towards the end of winter.

As a result, members of Myxogastria often serve as important decomposers and food sources for higher trophic levels.

[14] Few studies have investigated T. crateriformis importance for humans, though a 1989 paper illustrated that members of the genus Trichia produce naphthoquinone derivatives like trichione and homotrichone for sporocarp pigmentation.

[15] Naphthoquinone derivatives have been shown to be cytotoxic, providing them "significant antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, insecticidal, anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic properties.

These derivatives therefore serve an important pharmacological and antimicrobial role, such as the wound-healing shikonin, the herbicide Juglone, and the genotoxic plumbagin.