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lmr400
Madison, CT

July 2, 2008 8:57 PM

(Please click on the enlargement - it's very small)

I've never seen a plant (fungus?) like this before - it's growing in a shady area on top of mulch in the open. Each sphere is about 1/4 inch across. And what are those little round things on the inside when they open up? Thanks for your help!

Thumbnail by lmr400View Larger ImageView Larger

Farmerdill
Augusta, GA
(Zone 8a)



July 2, 2008 9:05 PM

Birds nest fungus. Not sure which one one. Cyathus striatus or Cyathus olla.

plantladylin
East Central, FL
(Zone 9a)

July 2, 2008 9:07 PM

Very cool! I've had something that looks identical to that growing in one of my container plants ... never knew what fungus it was.

More photo's I found of Cyathus: [HYPERLINK@images.google.com]

lmr400
Madison, CT

July 2, 2008 9:25 PM

I Googled bird's nest fungus, and it's fascinating. Thank you Farmerdill! Leah

Metrosideros
Keaau, HI

July 2, 2008 11:25 PM

Because of the color and the mulch that it grows on, it may be Cyathus pallidus.

Resin
Northumberland
(United Kingdom)
(Zone 9a)

July 3, 2008 3:54 AM

The 'eggs' are spore clusters.

Resin

tcs1366
Itasca, IL
(Zone 5a)

July 3, 2008 9:53 AM

Uggg - i have a 'spore' cluster problem .... it's slightly different, but a total nuisance. I've got artillery fungus.
funky looking stuff, aint it?

plantaholic186
Winnetka, IL

July 3, 2008 6:37 PM

I know almost nothing about fungi; is it a bad thing to have Cyathus, or is it a benign presence?

tcs1366
Itasca, IL
(Zone 5a)

July 3, 2008 6:45 PM

i honestly dont know much about them either... but i have Sphaerobolus stellatus and it "shoots" a tar like substance that is difficult to get off.

Metrosideros
Keaau, HI

July 3, 2008 6:51 PM

Bird's nest fungi will not harm living plants. They grow on various types of organic matter, such as: rotting sticks, herbaceous debris, mulch piles, manure, humus, and dung.

plantaholic186
Winnetka, IL

July 3, 2008 8:37 PM

Phew! Mahalo Metrosideros.

And I certainly hope to not fall prey to Sphaerobolus stellatus- sounds gross!

Metrosideros
Keaau, HI

July 3, 2008 9:12 PM

Although the bird's nest fungi are gross sounding, they are edible.

A fun fact about Sphaerobolus is they make a "pop" when they eject the spore-ball, that flies up to 14 ft. high, and 17 ft. away; more than 1000 times the size of the fungus. This would be the same as a human throwing a baseball over a mile.

plantaholic186
Winnetka, IL

July 4, 2008 10:52 PM

And here I though that popping noise was from my weary knees! ; )

tcs1366
Itasca, IL
(Zone 5a)

July 4, 2008 11:21 PM

OH Man -- could you imagine if you could actually hear that stuff popping?! yikes.
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