| See key to Bird's Nest Fungi at MushroomExpert.Com |
INDIANA MUSHROOMS
| Bird's Nest Fungi |
| These tiny "mushrooms" grow from wood or woody debris. Cyathus striatus and Crucibulum laeve are woodland species that can also be found in urban areas, sometimes growing by the hundreds in mulch, often together. The cup-like "nest" holds tiny "eggs" (called periodoles), which are little spore sacs. The periodoles of some species are dispersed by raindrops, hence the common name "Splash Cups". |