Seed Pod Identifcation
 

At least I think they're seed pods. I noticed these strange looking things growing all over the surface of my mulch. :shock: They look like tiny black cupcake papers containing small black disk shaped seeds. The cupcake things are firmly attached to pieces of mulch. Nearby plants include a Euphorbia Milli, Pregnant Onion, Day Lilly, and Bromeliad. I've tried some online research on seed pods for each of these plants but haven't come up with any definitive answers. If I had to guess I'd say they came from Euphorbia. I've included photos. Can anyone ID them?

not a clue for me, but these little 'cupcakes are fascinating!

I hope someone can solve this mystery.

very interesting! not a clue though!

:yikes:
the martians have arrived!

Looks like some type of fungi? Maybe a basidioomycetes?
Don't know for sure. Whatever you do-- don't taste it!

bingo

Yes definitely a basidiomycete Cyathus sp.

http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/faculty...ta/cyathus.jpg

bingo

AH HA! good work bingo!

here's some info on it

Cyathus striatus, one of the bird's nest fungi-- Tom Volk's Fungus of the Month for April 2006

That is the coolest looking fungi I have ever seen! Its like a little bowl of poisonous candy. I want some! lol

:rofl:

That stuff looks just like a reeses peanut butter cup..Except there are chocolate chips in the middle.. :lol:

I want to thank everyone for their contributions. So these guys are a fungus. Way cool... and they do look like tiny Reeses cup papers filled with candy. Another amazing creation courtesy of Mother Nature.

This is a bit off the current topic, but pertains to the original question that was asked.

If you want to know what Bromeliad seed pods look like just in case you end up with some, here're some links:

http://anwyl.com/images/epicactus/anw00342.jpg

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e2...ea_seedPod.jpg

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e2...3/Seed_pod.jpg

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e2..._seed_pod1.jpg

The mature seed pods of bromeliads almost always turn dark brown or black.

But...

In the meantime. I love those crazy fungi! They are so cool. Makes me wanna take it up for a hobby. Probably not a good idea though. :)

cool one!

Thanks King,

I have 3 varieties of bromeliads. One always blooms but the others are holding out. It's probably a lighting issue. I've moved them around a bit to give them some encouragement. What I'm trying to say is thank you. You're information is still valuable.

June

I also have these. There are thousands of them on my mulch. Doing research I found that they are "Bird Nest" fungus. I had to laugh at the name! They really do look like little birds' nests with eggs in them!

Hey...no problem Junebug! :)

Before I got into orchids I was into bromeliads. They're awesome in their own right. I love them. I don't collect them as heavily as I did before, but I own a few. I got 5 species of Tillandsias and 1 Neorelgia (I think, not too keen on the larger ones), all of them are looking great! I've got one Tillandsia (don't remember the species, I have a pic of it in bloom somewhere) that's got roots coming out of it all the time.

The Tillandisias can handle full sun in the morning or late afternoon.

I haven't bloomed mine yet either so I can't really help out there.

I can post pics of them tomorrow or sometime.