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Project Noah Nature School
Crucibulum laeve
Fascinating fungi that look like tiny birds' nests. Initially, they look like mustard yellow cushions (see 2nd picture). As they mature, they become cup-shaped, the lid disappears, and the outer surface turns dark brown. The fruiting body "nests" contain spore-filled periodoles ("eggs"). The nests, called peridia, serve as splash cups, and when raindrops strike the nest, the periodoles are projected into the air where they latch onto branches, leaves, etc.
Growing on the ground in a mixed forest, along a nature trail with mulch.
Spotted on Oct 16, 2017
Submitted on Oct 18, 2017
20 Comments
Thank you António!
Awesome series,congrats on the well deserved SOTW and thanks for sharing
Thanks for all the nice comments. I was lucky to spot these since they were only about 3mm wide, and would have completely missed them if I hadn't already been lying on the ground while taking pictures of woolly aphids!
Fantastic spotting and pics! Congrats, Christine.
Congratulations. I so...so...so want to see one!!!
Congratulations on SOTW. Have seen a few of these around NZ but never as perfectly formed and distinct as this. Great photo
Woohoo! Congratulations.
Wow, thank you so much for SOTW Daniele and the PN rangers! I'm stunned and this has made my day :)
Congratulations Christine, your Bird's Nest Fungi have been voted Spotting of the Week!
"Crucibulum belongs to the Nidulariaceae, a family of fungi whose fruiting bodies looks like egg-filled bird's nests. The "eggs" inside the nests are called peridioles and contain spores, while the "nests" themselves are known as peridia and serves as "splash cups", helping with spore dispersal by using the kinetic energy of falling drops of rain. Project Noah rangers praised this spotting for its completeness, quality of writing and information, and for fostering interest in the often underappreciated kingdom of fungi".
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Thanks triggsturner and flowntheloop!
Great series Christine.
Congrats on both nominations! Both spottings are just fantastic!
What a nice surprise! Thanks so much for a second nomination!
Your spotting has been nominated for the Spotting of the Week. The winner will be chosen by the Project Noah Rangers based on a combination of factors including: uniqueness of the shot, status of the organism (for example, rare or endangered), quality of the information provided in the habitat and description sections. There is a subjective element, of course; the spotting with the highest number of Ranger votes is chosen. Congratulations on being nominated!
Thanks!
Wow this is really cool.
Mark, thank you...and great observation - I hadn't noticed that before! Very cool. Lisa, thanks! You are very kind <3. Although, I have a plethora of not-so-good pics that I haven't gotten around to posting yet, lol ;P
@Mark: Absolutely. I have photos of empty bird's nests, but I have yet to find a cluster of full ones!
Great spotting. This species seems to be able to grow a new cup within and after the first is voided and depending on rainfall. I think that's happening in pic 4 left.
Great shots (as always), Christine! <3