Magpie ink cap fungus (Coprinus picaceus) during the early stages of spore release. Spores are the reproductive cells of fungi. In ink cap fungi spore

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Magpie ink cap fungus (Coprinus picaceus) during the early stages of spore release. Spores are the reproductive cells of fungi. In ink cap fungi spores mature from the outer edge of the cap inwards. After spore release the gill tissue begins to digest itself (autodeliquescence) and curl up and in order to allow spore release from the centre. To see photographs of the later stages of this process see B250/1446 and B250/1447. Photographed in Normandy, France, in November.

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Size: 3400px × 5152px
Photo credit: © JOHN WRIGHT/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: -digestion, autodeliquescence, autumn, biological, biology, botanical, botany, cap, coprinus, eumycota, flared, fungal, fungi, fungus, inkcap, leaf, litter, magpie, mushroom, mycology, nature, november, picaceus, release, reproducing, single, spore, stalk, winter