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Bird's Nest Fungus


Bird's Nest Fungus
Photo Information
Copyright: John Denk (jpdenk) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 480 W: 5 N: 783] (2061)
Genre: Fungi
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-07-25
Categories: Fungi
Camera: Nikon D70, Micro Nikkor AF60mm f2.8
Exposure: f/9.0, 1/60 seconds
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Mushrooms and Slime Molds of North America [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2009-07-27 8:00
Viewed: 528
Points: 14
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Cyathis striatus, one of the common cosmopolitan temperate woodland Bird's Nest fungi, so named because the spore packets somewhat resemble bird's eggs in a nest.

It's a saprobic species, growing on and consuming dead wood litter. Some years, it's a common species in the Oak_hickory woodlands around the Chicago area.

Again, had I not been leading a mushroom foray, I would have slowed down and taken the time to photograph this a bit better. This was a hand-held shot, not my best, but a reasonable record of the species. I used the built-in flash on my camera, softened with a Gary Fong Puffer flash diffuser.

The spore-dispersal mechanism is very interesting in this species. The "spore packets", called peridioles, are thrown out of the "nest" by the impact of raindrops. Here's what Wikipedia has to say about the dispersion method: "The cone shaped fruiting body of Cyathus striatus makes use of a splash-cup mechanism to help disperse the spores. When a raindrop hits the interior of the cup with the optimal angle and velocity, the downward force of the water ejects the peridioles into the air. The force of ejection rips open the funiculus, releasing the tightly wound funicular cord. The hapteron attached to the end of the funiculus is adhesive, and when it contacts a nearby plant stem or stick, the hapteron sticks to it; the funicular cord wraps around the stem or stick powered by the force of the still-moving peridiole (similar to a tetherball). The peridioles degrade over time to eventually release the spores within, or they may be eaten by herbivorous animals and redeposited after passing through the digestive tract."
Hormon_Manyer, lise, tuslaw, boreocypriensis has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi John
A lovely macro of this fungus - you've caught it at a good stage to show the unopened capsules along with the open 'nests' and 'eggs'. Good DOF and well controlled flash.
Kind Regards
Vinny

Hi John,

Although the photo's hand-held, I find it quite good. No problems with sharpness at all. An interesting specie, common here in Europe, too - one of my friends even found it in his window-box among flowers (on his balcony).

Once I told I don't like flash for fungi photos. But here it works well, and sometimes I experience the long-shutter flash off version isn't good enough, I mean the pic's better with flash - a few weeks ago I photographed Amanita lividopallescens and all my flash off shots became very bad (even from tripod), while the ones with flash are OK. So I think I'll use it more in the future. If You check out my Gyromitra parma photo in my gallery, that's another image which looked better with than without flash.

Tfs, cheers, László

hello John
great sharpness picture
very good details and beautiful colours
greeting lou

  • Great 
  • lise Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 172 W: 51 N: 548] (2875)
  • [2009-07-27 15:43]

Hi John
I've never seen these before, they are very original.
Excellent presentation of these bouquet of fungi. Good POV and focus. Excellent light and natural colours
Lise

  • Great 
  • tuslaw Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 511 W: 20 N: 1393] (4863)
  • [2009-07-27 19:17]

Another super image John,
They kind of remind me of chestnuts when they first fall to the ground and are still in their hulls. Very good detail and color, an excellent shot, particularly for being hand held. TFS.
Ron

Hi John

A fascinating species, a pity you couldn't stop to get better DOF. Not to worry, its not appeared here on TN that often. The flash is well used here, just enough control to highlight the right bits and pieces.

Chris

Hi MF John,

A great close-up shot of these spectacular fungi
from a fine POV with delightful composition.
TFS and cheers,

Bayram

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