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Nidulariaceae and gemmae cups similarities
This post will discuss similarities between Nidulariaceae, otherwise known as bird's nest fungi, and the gemmae cups of specifically Tetraphis pellucida, a species of moss.
I decided to post this after reading 'Gathering Moss' by Robin Wall Kimmerer.
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This image from Gathering Moss' by Robin Wall Kimmerer shows the gemmae cups of Tetraphis pellucida.
According to the book Tetraphis is unique in having specialized means of both sexual and asexual reproduction. It is remarkably flexible in making reproductive choices compared to other mosses.
Most mosses clone themselves by dismemberment. In other words broken-off bits of moss can grow into new adults that are genitically identical to the parents. Tetraphis however has another means of asexually cloning itself.
Tetraphis grows in patches on old stumps and looking closely the surface of these colonies seem to be covered in tiny green cups. These are gemmae cups, formed at the end of the upright shoots of the moss. These gemmae cups resemble bird's nest including a clutch of tiny green eggs.
"The nest or gemmae cup is a circular bowl made of overlapping leaves and nestled within it lie egg-like gemmae. Each gemma is a roundish mass of only ten to twelve cells, which catch the light and shimmer. Already moist and photosynthesizing, each gemma is poised to establish itself as a new plant, cloned from its parent."
The gemma in the gemmae cups wait for rain. Tetraphis is just sturdy enough to harness a raindrop and for that it is designed.
"When a gemmae cup receives a direct hit , the raindrop breaks loose the gemmae and propels them outward, leaving the nest empty."
The gemmae can be propelled up to fifteen centimeters away, which is quite a significant distance for a plant that is only one centimeter tall.
A longitudinal section through the fruiting body of Cyathus olla showing 5 peridioles attached inside the funnel-shaped peridium.
Just like most other (but not all) bird's nest fungi, the cup-shaped fruiting body of Cyathus olla contains a few so-called "eggs". These eggs are structures called peridioles (2, 5) which contain basidiospores by which this fungus reproduces and disperses itself.
Each peridiole is attached to the inner surface of the cup by a thin and hollow stalk which contains an inner, coiled funicular cord (9, 12). The fragile outer layer of the stalk, called the purse (3, 6), is easily ruptured, thus releasing the funicular cord. When wet, the funicular cord elongates significantly and can reach a length 15-20 centimeters. The base of this elongated cord, called the hapteron (13), is very sticky and adheres to solid objects after it is released from the cup. When dried the peridiole splits open and releases its spores which fall to the ground or get carried away by the wind.
Cups of Nidulariaceae essentially serve as "splash-cups" during a rain storm, just like gemmae cups. So they both reproduce asexually by one or multiple raindrops hitting the "nest" and dislodging its gemmae or peridioles.
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References
The information about Tetraphis and the gemmae cups I sourced from Robin Wall Kimmerer's book called 'Gathering Moss'.
The information about Cyathus I got from this webpage:
https://www.waynesword.net/pljune96.htm
Tetraphis pellucida picture:
Cyathus olla picture:
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