DSC_6682 White bird's nest fungus (Nidula niveotomentosa) growing on decaying beech twigs. A small flared 'hairy' cup on the outside, with a pool of jelly containing the pinkish-brown spore masses ('eggs' or peridioles). This group of fungi have a specialised method of spore dispersal. A droplet of water falls into the cup and splashes the the egg out onto the surrounding vegetation. Boyle River *
11008-12709 Field bird's nest fungus (Cyathus olla) usually found clustered on woody debris such as wood mulch. The cup margins are frequently wavy with the inner surface a smooth pale grey. The 'eggs' or peridioles are silvery grey. This group of fungi have a specialised method of spore dispersal. A droplet of water falls into the cup and splashes the the peridioles out onto the surrounding vegetation. Tauranga *
DSC_2567 (Laccaria glabripes) sometimes in large colonies on forest floor, under silver beech (Lophozonia menziesii). Caps are rounded at first, becoming flat-topped, and with age caps curl up around the edges. Catlins River *