Crucibulum laeve

Taxobox
color = lightblue
name = "Crucibulum laeve"
status =


image_width = 270px
image_caption = "A. muscaria"
showing various growth stages.
regnum = Fungi
divisio = Basidiomycota
classis = Basidiomycetes
subclassis = Hymenomycetes
ordo = Agaricales
familia = Nidulariaceae
genus = "Crucibulum"
species = "C. vulgare, C laeve"
binomial =
binomial_authority =Domain: Eukaryota
Genus: Crucibulum
Species: Crucibulum vulgare, Crucibulum laeve [ [http://www.hiddenforest.co.nz/fungi/family/nidulariaceae/nidulariaceae.htm Family: Nidulariaceae] ]

Crucibulum laeve is a unique mushroom, named appropriately for its resemblance to a miniature bird’s nest, is found all over North America and in Europe [ [http://www.rogersmushrooms.com/gallery/DisplayBlock~bid~5881.asp © 2001-2008 Rogers Plants Ltd, The Mushrooms, Crucibulum laeve] ] and Australia [ [http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/abrs/publications/fungi/crucibulum-laeve.html Department of the Environment , Water, Heritage and the Arts, Fungi of Australia] ] . Common names include the White-egg Bird's Nest Mushroom, White Bird's Nest Mushroom, and the Common Bird's Nest Mushroom. They start out as yellow cushions that then shed their lids [ [http://www.mushroomexpert.com/crucibulum_laeve.html Kuo, M. (2003, September). Crucibulum laeve. Retrieved from the MushroomExpert.Com Web site: http://www.mushroomexpert.com/crucibulum_laeve.html] ] and become buff-brown cups, typically 3-6mm in diameter and up to 7mm tall. [ [http://www.mykoweb.com/CAF/species/Crucibulum_laeve.html The Fungi of CaliforniaCopyright © 1997-2007 Michael Wood & Fred StevensA MykoWeb Page] ] The cups contain tiny white "eggs," technically termed perdioles. The center of each disk, no more than 2mm in diameter, is packed with spores called basidiospores which are dispersed when an egg is dislodged by raindrops or water dripping off an over-hanging leaf. The water will splash the egg out, uncoiling and snapping the funiculus, the cord that formerly connected it with its cup or “nest." The end of the funiculus is sticky, allowing the egg to attach itself to a leaf or a twig some distance away. If it lands on suitable ground, it will begin to germinate. These mushrooms are not considered edible.

References