Something weird in my forest

[MarcP]

Go ahead and laugh. My first thought was WOW! A dinosaur egg hatched! But then I realized how unlikely that was so I felt it and it felt rubbery but not like real rubber. A fungus? It seems to be anchored so I didn't want to damage it by pulling at it. Looking on line, I see black puffballs that closely resemble this but I don't see anything listed for Lenawee County in Michigan. What do you think it is? You can see rain water inside the hole.

[applestar]

That is cool looking. (Love the dinosaur egg idea )
It reminds me of "Birds Nest Fungus" they showed us on a fungi walk -- a little different, but similar.

[MarcP]

I think you're on to something. I'm going back today to do a video of it (assuming it's still there and I can find it).

[!potatoes!]

yeah, definitely looks fungal... interesting that there's those three evenly spaced shoots coming up right around it...solomon's seal, maybe? they're sure ringing it in, though.

[MarcP]

I wondered about those shoots, too. There is a lot of false Solomon's seal in the woods so it could be that. I'll keep an eye on this. If anyone has time and/or inclination, I just started a Facebook page called The Feral Forest. I'll include a link to the albums but you might have to sign in to see or comment. I have one album called No ID where I've posted photos of common weeds that I haven't yet tried to identify. I'm sorry but the organization of the photos is more for my benefit than anyone else's.

https://www.facebook.com/theferalforest/photos_albums

[MarcP]

One of my Facebook friends suggested these two fungi. Now, she lives in England but these are both excellent guesses: Plectania melastoma and Ebony Cup Fungus

[MarcP]

How about this? Urnula craterium (Devil's Urn)