|
Birds Nest Fungi |
||||
|
||
| Small enough to go unnoticed, these midden-heap mushrooms are quite remarkable. | ||
|
||
| Take a closer look and you'll notice what appears to be tiny birds nests with eggs inside. | ||
|
||
| Birds Nest fungi emerge like squat little drums with a slightly concave upper surface. | ||
|
||
| Rain activated, they swell until their tops split open and their cups fill with rainwater. | ||
|
||
| Rainwater is needed for spore packet development. Note how some mature spore packets have "left the nest". | ||
|
||
| A collection of Birds Nests fungi, some with their spore packets spilling out | ||
|
||
| A perfect example of a Birds Nest fungi about to eject its spore packets. | ||
|
||
| Like the Earth Star mushroom, the Birds Nest arches itself upwards to eject its spores. | ||
|
||
| Once their spore packets mature, spill out of the nest, the Birds Nest fungi life cycle is complete. | ||
| Return to Top. | Go to " Urban Morels " | |