Natural England - Octospora humosa - Hotlips
Octospora humosa - Hotlips
Suggested by: Rachael Blackman
Judged overall winner
Runner up - Orange bombardier
A high pressured fungus.
This bright, reddish-orange fungus is one of the Ascomycota – the spore-shooting fungi. These fungi produce microscopic spores inside special, elongated sacs. As the spores mature, pressure builds inside until eventually the top bursts off, “shooting” out the spores. Octospora humosa is thought to live with certain types of hair moss. The connection between the two species is not clear, but the fungus does not appear to harm the plant.
Image © Thomas Laessoe/MycoKey
