Cyathus striatus
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| Fluted Bird's Nest | ||||||||||||||
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| Cyathus striatus (Huds.) Willd. per Pres. |
Cyathus striatus, commonly known as fluted bird's nest or splash cups, is a common saprobic bird's nest fungus present throughout Europe and North America. It can be distinguished from most other similar fungi by its hairy exterior and striated inner walls. It is most commonly found growing on dead wood in open forests, but it also occurs on wood chips. The fruiting bodies are encountered from summer until early winter. Across its range colour and size can vary quite significantly. The common name splash cups refers to the species method of spore dispersal: the sides of the cup are angled such that raindrops will fall in and dislodge the spore sacs in order to disperse them.[1][2]
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[edit] Description
The "nest" is usually about 7 to 10 mm in height and 6 to 8 mm in width,[2] but size is variable and specimens up to 1.5 cm high and wide may be found.[1] The shape typically resembles a vase, but this is also somewhat variable. The outer surface ranges in colour from slightly brownish to greyish buff to deep brown with a shaggy or hairy texture. The inner surface is clearly striated or grooved, and also shiny. The "lid", technically called an epiphragm, which is gone at maturity, is whitish.[1][2] At the end of the funiculus is a sticky "weight", called a basal hapteron.[citation needed]
The "eggs", more properly termed peridioles, contain parts of the spore mass, or gleba. These peridioles are about 1 to 1.5 mm wide and rarely up to 2 mm wide. Their shape is somewhat triagnular and their colour is dark. They are sheathed and attached to the "nest" by cords, known as a funiculus in the singular. Under a microscope the spores measure about 15 to 20 µm long by 8 to 12 µm wide. They are elliptical, smooth, and notched at one end.[1][2]
[edit] Reproduction
The cone shaped cup serves as a splash cup, to help spread the spores, which in turn reproduce the fungus. When a raindrop hits the interior of the cup, the peridioles are ejected into the air by the force of the raindrop. These peridioles are followed by their funicular cord and basal hapteron. When they hit a nearby plant stem or stick, the hapteron sticks to it, and the funicular cord wraps around the stem or stick powered by the force of the still moving peridiole (almost like a tetherball). After drying out, the peridiole releases its spores, thus reproducing the fungus.[citation needed]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d Lincoff, Gary H. (1981), National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Mushrooms, New York: Random House, p. 828-829, ISBN 0-394-51992-2
- ^ a b c d Kuo, M. (September 2003), Cyathus striatus, Retrieved from the MushroomExpert.Com Website, <http://www.mushroomexpert.com/cyathus_striatus.html>
[edit] External links
Media related to Cyathus striatus from the Wikimedia Commons.- Mushroom Expert Profile
- Description and ecology at Tom Volk's Fungi
- Kuo, Micheal “Cyathus Striatus”, www.mushroomexpert.com/cyathus_striatus.html
- “Bird’s Nest Fungus”, www.waynesword.com
- Volk, Tom “Cyathus Striatus, one of the bird’s nest fungi”, www.TomVolkFungi.net
- Pearson, Lorentz C. “The Diversity and Evolution of Plants”, www.books.google.com
- “Cyathus Striatus”, www.mykoweb.com
- “A Splash of Fungi, Cyathus Striatus (Bird’s Nest Fungus)”, www.acadweb.uwlax.edu
