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Cannon Ball Fungus
this is a *tiny* earthstar - it holds one little "egg" much like a bird's nest that gets launched from the capsule and can travel up to 17 feet. Sorry for the quality, but it started pouring about 1/3 of the way through our hike, so I put away the good camera and was using the waterproof one for the remainder.. this was way too cool to pass for another day though (and odd enough that it may be hard to find again easily)
This tiny gasteromycete is known for its cannon-like ability to eject a spore mass (peridiole) a considerable distance, sometimes many feet. Though rarely seen because of its size, it is probably common and there are reports of it fruiting in sufficiently large numbers in mulched plantings to cause problems for homeowners, masses of the pinhead-sized, dark peridioles adhering to the paint surfaces of cars and buildings. Do not confuse the inflated, translucent inner peridium, often seen on the cup.. more
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http://www.jungledragon.com/specie/6918/videos Posted 9 years ago