Dung-loving bird's nest

Description:

Very small cups (6mm) with no striations internally, approximately 6 dark peridioles in each, covered with a yellow membrane before opening from a simple split. Cups are very woolly on the outside.

Habitat:

In very wet mulch, eucalyptus rain forest, national park.

Notes:

"Cyathus stercoreus has been investigated for its ability to break down lignin and cellulose in agricultural byproducts, like wheat straw or grasses. It selectively breaks down lignin, leaving much of the cellulose intact, which increases the amount of digestible carbohydrate for ruminant mammals, and enhances both its value as a food source and its biodegradability. The enzymes responsible, laccase and manganese peroxidase, also have industrial applications for lignin degradation and removal in the pulp and paper industry. Liquid cultures of C. stercoreus have also been shown to biodegrade the explosive compound 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene " - wikipedia