Phylum: Zygomycota Family: Pilobolaceae
Pilobolus crystallinus (F.H. Wigg.) Tode
Dung Cannon
A tiny fungus that grows on fresh dung, sometimes in large numbers. The long stalk (sporangiophore) has an inflated apex just below the spore capsule (sporangium). When the spores are ripe this pressurised vesicle shoots the sporangium up to two metres, one of the most powerful forces in nature
References:
Doveri (2007) Fungi Fimicoli Italici
Ellis & Ellis (1998) Microfungi on Miscellaneous Substrates
Læssøe & Petersen (2019) Fungi of Temperate Europe, Volume 2