It's a Mycological Easter egg hunt, a gathering of mushrooms that come from eggs!

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You've found Crucibulum vulgare, one of the bird's nest fungi!

Crucibulum vulgare, one of the bird's nest fung

This fungus is *very* common in bark mulch in landscaping. The "eggs" in the nest are actually analogous to tiny puffballs in that they contain the basidiospores inside of them. The nest acts as a splash cup. When raindrops fall into the cup, the eggs (technically called peridioles) are splashed out some distance away from the nest. If they land on a suitable substrate, they will germinate and form new mycelium that can grow into new fruiting bodies. When immature, the nest is covered by a brown membrane called an epiphragm, which breaks before the rain can splash out the eggs. Look for this fungus in your bark mulch right now! I bet it's there.

I'm sorry this has not yet been fungus of the month. (I knowthis makes you very sad...) Maybe somday...

If you have anything to add, or if you have corrections or comments, please write to me at volk.thom@uwlax.edu

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