Crucibulum laeve

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Crucibulum laeve

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Fungi
Division:	Basidiomycota
Class:	Basidiomycetes
Subclass:	Hymenomycetes
Order:	Agaricales
Family:	Nidulariaceae
Genus:	Crucibulum
Species:	C. vulgare, C laeve

Domain: Eukaryota
Genus: Crucibulum
Species: Crucibulum vulgare, Crucibulum laeve^[1]

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^[2] and Australia^[3]. 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 ^[4]and become buff-brown cups, typically 3-6mm in diameter and up to 7mm tall.^[5] 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.