Q: When is a fungus not a fungus?
A: When it's a Birdsnest!
(Sorry about that folks!)
Cyathus striatus. Birdsnest fungus
I found these in my garden while clearing a pile of rotting logs which I think were Spruce (certainly coniferous).
Unfortunately they are never likely to re-appear as there is now a fruitcage on the spot.
As with all the Birdsnest species the spores are born on the "eggs". I'm assuming these were not the freshest specimens when I found them as the outside should be a lot more hairy than in these specimens. Nevertheless something different. Although they don't appear to be particularly rare, I've never seen them anywhere since.
Have you seen the large wooden sculptures of bird's nest fungi in the Botanic Garden Tony? Made by Tina Ashdown and Laura Vettori, they've been decorated with a Welsh/English poem about fungi written by Eisteddfod bard Einir Jones. Well worth looking for.
ReplyDelete