Cyathus sp.

2 A Bird's Nest Fungus at National Arboretum Forests

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Identification history

	Cyathus sp.	26 Jun 2024	Heino1
	Cyathus sp.	25 Jun 2024	TimL

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User's notes

This is a follow-up sighting to 4577232. The Bird's Nest Fungus was originally sighted on 20th June. Today's sighting shows the current condition of the open cup with the 'eggs' remaining in place. The second to fourth images show the 'eggs' having been moved around within the cup to dislodge them and show their attachments. The final image shows a clump of three 'eggs' removed from the cup to show their attachments and arrangement. Hopefully this additional information will help with identification.

4 comments

RogerH wrote:

25 Jun 2024

Thanks TimL. It's not quite what I was expecting with respect to the ''funicle". It is encased in a 'purse' which opens when the egg is splashed out and a long thin cord is unfurled as the case flies through the air. See this pic and diagram from the web: https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fbibleofbotany.com%2Findex%2Fglossary-introduction%2Fglossary-page-4%2F&psig=AOvVaw3YI4oQ6rDJmxRgRpD6AWZ5&ust=1719383196899000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CA8QjRxqFwoTCLDbyNuP9oYDFQAAAAAdAAAAABAj.

Heino1 wrote:

26 Jun 2024

The small, white bit sticking out from the 'egg' (or peridiole) is the compressed funicular cord and here (https://www.anbg.gov.au/fungi/images-captions/cyathus-peridioles-0252.html) you see where I've carefully teased out the cords of three peridioles.

RogerH wrote:

26 Jun 2024

Hieino. Many thanks. The link is great. I had wondered if the original pics were at the compressed stage. Amazing bungee cord!

Heino1 wrote:

26 Jun 2024

@RogerH Even though I had already read of the cord I was still amazed at the length of cord when I unravelled the first of these. I did so in a drop of water to reduce the risk of breakage.

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