Bird's-Nest Fungus

beetleman · Post by **beetleman** » Sat Jul 11, 2009 10:05 am

You can see how they get their name. These fungi were growing in my raised-bed garden (lots of compost and manure). First picture is a group shot. The second shows them more close-up. You can still see the remnants of the covering on the "seeds" in the cup. Third photo shows the early stages of growth up to the covered cup. Cups are around 5mm diameter. More on the life history
http://waynesword.palomar.edu/pljune96.htm

Canon 400D, Canon 100mm Macro, flash, slight cropping.
F/13
ISO100
1/200sec

jaharris1001 · Post by **jaharris1001** » Wed Aug 12, 2009 7:07 am

very interesting find Doug, Ive never seen anything like that before, very interesting indeed !!

MarkB1 · Post by **MarkB1** » Thu Aug 13, 2009 2:13 am

Seeds in a cup, eggs in a nest. Remarkable stuff.

Jbailey · Post by **Jbailey** » Fri Aug 14, 2009 11:12 am

Good photos, Beetleman. I used to see lots of them on top of the wood chip mulch in our yard. They are quite attractive and interesting but easy to overlook unless you get down on your knees! The past couple of years they have disappeared by us.
I posted a photo of them among my first posts here.

Jim

Ken Ramos · Post by **Ken Ramos** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 4:28 am

I too often come across these on my hikes through the mountains here, though usually the ones I come across are old and empty. Wonderful shots here Doug, seems to be a bit of sporulation going on, waiting for a rain drop or two, I suppose.

Cyclops · Post by **Cyclops** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 12:37 pm

Fabulous shots!

missgecko · Post by **missgecko** » Wed Aug 19, 2009 4:09 pm

Great photo Beetleman!!! Furthering my education on fungi.

Cheers
Sam