Cannon Ball fungus

Sphaerobolus stellatus

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 lobes for the gleba mass (peridiole). The "balloon" indicates that the peridiole has already been shot off.
cannon ball fungus Cannon Ball fungus,Common chickweed,Fall,Geotagged,Sphaerobolus stellatus,Stellaria media,United States

Appearance

Fruiting body globose, in age, cup-shaped, 2-3 mm broad, usually erumpent from a lignicolous substrate, occasionally developing from a pallid, surface mycelial layer; outer cup surface (peridial layer) cream-buff to ochraceous, matted tomentose, pliant, soon splitting, forming 5-7 short lobes; inner-most peridial layer translucent, tinged yellow, surrounding a glebal mass (peridiole), at maturity suddenly everting, ejecting a dark-brown, sticky peridiole; remnants of the inner peridial layer, inflated, balloon-like, briefly remaining attached to the lobe tips; in age the cups whitish and empty.
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) Cannon Ball fungus,Geotagged,Sphaerobolus stellatus,Summer,United States

Habitat

Clustered on standing dead wood, fallen logs, and woody debris; fruiting throughout the mushroom season.

References:

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http://www.mykoweb.com/CAF/species/Sphaerobolus_stellatus.html
Taxonomy
KingdomFungi
DivisionBasidiomycota
ClassAgaricomycetes
OrderGeastrales
FamilyGeastraceae
GenusSphaerobolus
SpeciesSphaerobolus stellatus
Photographed in
United States of America