Species · GBIF taxon 5243575
common bird's nest fungus
Crucibulum laeveAlso known as White-egg Bird's Nest, Crucible Fungus
These tiny, cup-shaped fungi mimic miniature bird's nests complete with lentil-sized eggs called peridioles. When raindrops strike the cup, the kinetic energy launches the sticky eggs up to several feet onto surrounding vegetation. Once attached, these spore packets wait to be eaten by passing herbivores, completing their unique lifecycle through the animal's digestive tract.
DecomposerTinyRain-dispersed
1 / 7- diet
- Saprotrophic (decaying wood and plant matter)
- family
- Nidulariaceae
- threats
- Drought and removal of woody debris
- life Span
- Fruiting bodies persist for several months; mycelium lives for years
NE
Many edible mushrooms have toxic look-alikes; never eat wild fungi based on app identification alone.
- Look closely: Search damp woodchips, garden mulch, or decaying twigs in shaded areas during autumn.
- Observe the lid: Young specimens feature a fuzzy yellow membrane covering the nest before it opens.
- Check the eggs: Look for the tiny cords anchoring the eggs to the nest bottom.