A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife
Project Noah Nature School
Cyathus striatus
Stunningly fascinating fruiting bodies that look like bird's nests. The metallic gray "eggs" inside the nests are called peridioles and contain spores. The shaggy, vase-shaped "nests", called peridia, serve as "splash cups" and help with spore dispersal by using the kinetic energy of rain. When raindrops strike the nest, the peridioles are projected into the air where they can then latch onto branches, leaves, etc. The nests were approximately 1cm tall.
Growing on rotting wood beside a small pond in a deciduous forest.
Spotted on Dec 3, 2017
Submitted on Dec 4, 2017
1 Comment
On my bucket list!