Megan's Nature Nook
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Although most trees have lost their leaves by now and other forest plants are withering away, you can still find some life in the woods, fungi! Fluted Bird’s Nest Fungus (Cyathus striatus), also known as Splash Cup, is a tiny little fungi often overlooked. Bird’s Nest Fungi can be found July through mid-November when damp conditions provide the perfect habitat. It can be found growing individually or in small clusters on dead wood such as twigs or branches and even mulch. Bird’s Nest gets its name from their appearance. They look like tiny bird nests complete with eggs. The outside of the “nest” or cup, called the peridium, can vary from orange-brown to brown or grey and has a fuzzy appearance. The inside holds four to five tiny egg-looking discs called peridioles. The “eggs” hold spores that mature into fungi. The nest is 3/8 of an inch in diameter and the peridium can vary in height from 1/4 - 5/8 inches, so quite small! Their alternate name, Splash Cup, comes from how their spores are spread. A raindrop falling into the nest (peridium) can launch the eggs (peridioles) up to three feet helping to spread the spores. Eventually the egg will split open releasing the spores for new fungi to grow if they happen to land on suitable habitat. Immature nests have a thin membrane covering the top of the nest called an epiphragm. This protects the eggs from being dispersed before they are ready, once they are mature, the membrane degrades allowing raindrops in. Although they are small and can be easily missed, Birds Nest Fungi have an interesting lifecycle! Fluted Brid’s Nest Fungi are one of the smaller species of Birds Nests, but even the larger ones can be missed because of their small size. As you are out enjoying this fall weather on a hike or cleaning up the yard for winter, keep your eyes open for these tiny nests!
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