Puffballs, Earth Stars, Bird's Nest Fungi

Puffballs and related genera

The fruiting bodies of these fungi consist mainly of billions of powdery spores. Puffballs open upon maturity and let the wind distribute the spores.

Scleroderma sp

Scleroderma sp (cut)

Pisolithus sp

Pisolithus sp (cut)

Lycoperdon sp

Lycoperdon sp (cut)

Earth Stars 

Earth Stars are related to puffballs. The distribution of their spores happens in the same way. As they sit on a star-shaped base they can easily be recognised. 

Geastrum sp

Geastrum sp

Bird's Nest Fungi

When mature, the fruiting bodies of these tiny fungi  resemble little bird's nests with the spore packets looking like eggs.

Bird's nest fungi use raindrops to disperse their spores.