National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Klamath Network Featured Creature February 2009 Common Bird’s Nest Fungus (Crucibulum laeve) FIELD NOTES: General Description: Habitat: Distribution: Bird’s nest fungi very much resemble their Bird’s nest fungi are widely distributed Crucibulum laeve is found namesake. There are four common genera on decaying sticks and logs, vegetable throughout North America, of this fungus in the Nidulariaceae family, debris, soil, and manure. As saprobic Europe, and Australia. Different with Crucibulum laeve being one of the organisms, they help decay the matter on bird’s nest fungi species are more common species. The fruiting body which they grow. evident at different times of the (“nest”) starts as a nearly round globe with year; the common bird’s nest a yellow cushion on top. At maturity, this fungus is in fruit from July­ yellow cap breaks off, revealing a more October. Other bird’s nest fungus cylindrical and deeply cup­shaped fruiting species are found in temperate body. The cup is about 5­12 mm in climates all over the world. diameter and 4­8 mm high. The outside of the fruiting body is velvety, ranging in Edibility: color from tawny yellow to cinnamon­ Mushrooms Demystified notes that brown, and may grow smoother and darker whether or not the fungus is or lighter with age. The inside of the nest is actually edible, it is “much too smooth and a shiny white or silver gray. miniscule to merit being munched The peridioles (“eggs”), 1­2 mm in © R.A. Chilton on!” diameter, are whitish or buff discs and attached to the nest by long thin cords. Reproduction: Status: Bird’s nest fungi individuals are gregarious Raindrops and animals help disperse the The common bird’s nest fungus is creatures, often found in dense colonies. spores of the bird’s nest fungus. The nest common throughout its range. is a type of splash cup, its shape engineered so that water droplets hit the bottom of the cup with the pressure and angle needed to expel and disperse the egg­shaped peridioles far outside. A single raindrop may eject these “eggs” out as far as 7 feet! These peridioles are carried away through the air, along with a sticky string (funiculus). This filament helps the “egg” to adhere to the surface it lands on, holding it to the ground or © Mark Steinmetz wrapping around a branch or twig. Other © Fred Stevens bird’s nest fungus species reside in a Additional Information: sticky jelly in the nest instead of having a Where to see it in the Klamath Parks: For more information, visit: The A keen eye will probably find bird’s nest funiculus. After landing, the outside of Mushroom Expert’s species page fungi in Redwood National and State the peridiole decays or is eaten away by and Mushrooms Demystified insects, exposing the spores inside. Parks, Oregon Caves National Monument, (1986) by David Arora (Ten Speed Crater Lake National Park, Lassen Whereas other fungi produce millions of Press, Berkeley). Volcanic National Park, and Whiskeytown spores, bird’s nest fungi produce only a few, all packaged with the correct mating National Recreation Area. strains. Fertile mycelia develop directly from these spores. .