 The tiny, tiny objects at the right are appropriately
known as Bird's Nests -- they are members of the Nidulariales. Each of the
"nests" is barely large enough to hold a BB. The little black "eggs"
in the "nests" (the eggs are technically called "peridioles") are at
first covered by white membranes, but at maturity the membranes rupture, exposing the eggs
to open air. Then raindrops splash the eggs out of the nest. These eggs contain spores
which will germinate and form new fungal bodies. Bird's Nests are not particularly rare or
exotic. I happened to notice these one morning growing in the old, wet ashes around
my campfire as I prepared breakfast! |