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Birds Nest Fungi

Description:

small circular fungi growing in mulch, they seem to have popped already, black bean like structures in the inside

Habitat:

mulch

1 Species ID Suggestions

Bird's Nest Fungus


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11 Comments

ThePinappleMan
ThePinappleMan 12 years ago

Thanks for the info Sarah I think these are now my favorite fungi too!

SarahWhitt
SarahWhitt 12 years ago

Here's what I found on Wikipedia:
The Nidulariaceae are a family of fungi in the order Nidulariales. Commonly known as the bird's nest fungi, their fruiting bodies resemble tiny egg-filled birds' nests. As they are saprobic, feeding on decomposing organic matter, they are often seen growing on decaying wood and in soils enriched with wood chips or bark mulch; they have a widespread distribution in most ecological regions. The five genera within the family, namely, Crucibulum, Cyathus, Mycocalia, Nidula, and Nidularia, are distinguished from each other by differences in morphology and peridiole structure; more recently, phylogenetic analysis and comparison of DNA sequences is guiding new decisions in the taxonomic organization of this family

ThePinappleMan
ThePinappleMan 12 years ago

hahaha :)

SarahWhitt
SarahWhitt 12 years ago

why those are the birdy eggs, of course!! hahaha....

ThePinappleMan
ThePinappleMan 12 years ago

Yeah it fits perfectly, do you by any chance know what those bean like structures are?

SarahWhitt
SarahWhitt 12 years ago

You are welcome, PineappleMan! :)

SarahWhitt
SarahWhitt 12 years ago

These are quickly becoming one of my favorite fungi!! I found some this fall in my own garden growing on mulch! Love the name - really fits, huh?

ThePinappleMan
ThePinappleMan 12 years ago

Oh thanks Sarah that was really fast

ThePinappleMan
ThePinappleMan 12 years ago

Thanks I have never seen anything like this!

KatherineD
KatherineD 12 years ago

Very cool spotting, how interesting!

ThePinappleMan
Spotted by
ThePinappleMan

Little Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey, USA

Spotted on Jan 1, 2012
Submitted on Jan 1, 2012

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