fungal eggs aplenty
ready to bounce into sweet life
far from all of the utter madness
*************************************************************************************************************
Per Michael Kuo (0nline):
These odd and fascinating little fungi look for all the world like tiny birds’ nests. The fruiting bodies form little cuplike nests which contain spore-filled eggs. The nests are called “peridia” (“peridium” in the singular), and serve as splash cups; when raindrops strike the nest, the eggs (called “peridioles”) are projected into the air, where they latch onto twigs, branches, leaves, and so on. What exactly happens next is not completely clear, but eventually the spores are dispersed from the egg. They then germinate and create mycelia, which eventually hook up with other mycelia and produce more fruiting bodies.
Bird-nest Cup Fungi (each one was around 5mm in diameter)… Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2018
Tom's Nature-up-close Photography and Mindfulness Blog 