Mar 13, 2017
Spotted in my backyard! This is a good example of the reproductive mechanism of the Bird’s Nest fungi (Crucibulum laeve).
The fruiting body is shaped like a bird’s nest and contains egg-like peridioles filled with spores. In my backyard, this fungi is growing in a cinder block with aloe vera plants. Raindrops have launched the “eggs” (peridioles) from the “nest” (peridium) and the funicular cord (a cord connected to the "egg”) has helped the peridiole wrap around the nearest thing it lands on. You can see the funicular cord in the fourth picture. In this case, the periodioles have launched up to 9cm, sticking to an aloe vera plant.