New Zealand Fungi and Lichens

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DSC_6682 White bird's nest (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 *

DSC 6682 White woolly bird's nest fungus Nidula candida niveotomentosa 'hairy' cup pool of jelly spore masses eggs peridioles Boyle River