Fluted bird’s nest

Identification checklist

Check the entire fruitbody for identification. A tiny bird’s-nest fungus with a longitudinally fluted inner wall and small spore-containing “eggs”. The fruitbody is initially closed by a whitish membrane and later opens into a cup. It is dark brown and hairy outside, shiny grey and clearly fluted inside, with no stem. On decaying wood, leaf litter and other plant debris; possible throughout the year.

Detailed features

Cap

A tiny bird's-nest-like cup with a longitudinally grooved inner wall and small spore-bearing 'eggs'.

Hymenophore

The fruitbody is initially closed by a whitish membrane and later opens into a cup. It is dark brown and hairy outside, glossy grey and distinctly grooved inside, with no stem.

Flesh

White and somewhat tough.

Smell

No distinctive smell.

Spore print

White.

Ecology

Trophic mode

Saprotrophic

Substrate

Dead wood, Leaf litter

Notes

Saprotrophic species. On decaying wood, leaf litter and other plant debris; possible throughout the year.

Similar species

• Field bird's nest (Cyathus olla)

  C. striatus has a distinctly longitudinally striated inner cup wall; C. olla is much smoother inside.

• Cyathus stercoreus

Interesting facts

Did you know? Raindrops splash the spore-bearing 'eggs' out of the cup, a characteristic bird's-nest fungus mechanism.