genus family fungi fruiting bodies resemble tiny egg filled bird nests called splash cups fruiting bodies adapted spore dispersal energy falling drops rain eggs inside bird nests technically known hard shells containing spores tend stick nearby land increasing odds consumed dispersed animals members genus saprobic obtaining nutrients dead organic matter typically found growing decayed wood wood debris known species distinguished genera relatively simple cord hyphae connects eggs exterior bird nest history bird nest fungi mentioned flemish botanist couple centuries fungi subject controversy seeds mechanism dispersed nature example french botanist work des erroneously suggested ejected fruiting bodies sort spring mechanism structure biology genus better known mid-19th century brothers published monograph bird nest fungi subsequently written american species curtis gates lloyd new_zealand species type species genus described brothers older synonym species known today naming choice later deemed invalid rules fungal nomenclature applied species use based species appeared paris lee published valid description genus monograph brothers species known taxonomy fungi changed starting point date naming fungi deemed invalid etymology specific epithet derived latin meaning smooth description species light tan colored fruiting bodies known shaped depending species size range tall wide mouth tall wide viewed wall single layer tissue contrast layered wall species outer surface hyphae form texture visible condition known outer layers hairs typically wears age leave relatively smooth surface young specimens thin layer tissue called covers wears maturity expose usually noted disc shaped whitish color attached strand called cord cord tends away disappear fruiting body ages spores species typically elliptical roughly spherical shape thick walled hyaline light yellow brown color dimensions spores notably slightly strongly curved basic fruiting body structure genera family essentially similar readily confused species especially older specimens worn distinguished presence cord hyphae differs genus having distinct layered wall intricate structure derived greek word meaning small leather egg bird nest mass tissue enclosed hard outer shell disc shaped light buff white persistent layer tissue surrounding called inside spore bearing tissue hymenium spore bearing cells basidia sterile non reproductive structures spores attached fruiting body structure hyphae differentiated regions basal piece inner wall middle piece upper called purse connected lower surface purse middle piece thread interwoven hyphae called cord attached end end mass hyphae called species covered whitish species markedly different species purse rounded wide attached underside purse directly wall stout yellow grey cord wide long spore dispersal spores dispersed water hanging leaf smooth inner walls fruiting body consistently form angle horizontal demonstrated combined effect shape internal wall angle produce good splash action force falling water snapping cord connects fruiting body continues flight extends length sticky end adhere leaf distance away end wrapped hanging object stuck spores thick outer wall wears away eaten animal ultimately passed digestive system method spore dispersal suggested late 17th century tested martin thoroughly 1940s life cycle life cycle contains stages typical species reproduce spores sexually like wood decay fungi life cycle considered different phases stage spread reproductive stage establishment spore producing structures fruiting bodies stage encompasses phases life cycle involved spread survival spores suitable conditions moisture temperature grow branching called hyphae pushing like roots rotting wood hyphae containing single nucleus compartment increase length adding cell wall material growing tip tips expand spread produce new growing points network called develops growth occurs synthesis hyphae different mating compatibility groups fuse form process called survival colonization substrate like rotting wood include suitable humidity nutrient availability saprobic growth rotting wood possible break complex simple nutrients period time appropriate environmental conditions enter reproductive stage life cycle fruiting body formation influenced external factors season affects temperature air humidity nutrients light fruiting bodies develop produce containing basidia new young basidia contain pair sexually compatible fuse resulting fusion nucleus undergoes produce containing single nucleus fruiting bodies produced long lasting continue produce successive generations fruiting bodies long environmental conditions favorable development initial studies development fruiting bodies performed brothers walker collectively early researchers determined produced club shaped basidia line internal cavity basidia typically spores attached short projection detached basidia spores migrate center concurrently collapse underlying tissues compounds grown liquid culture produces chemicals called structurally related molecules contain ring structures compounds unique species identified later research confirmed presence additional type compounds implicated formation advanced stages diabetes compounds use treatment disorder habitat distribution like bird nest fungi species saprobic derive nutrients organic matter typically found growing wood woody debris stems twigs wood chips old shells old found dried notes found soil large logs found roots stems old dead dry land plants species known species temperate zone species distribution collected european countries north_america found alaska mexico south american locations include chile del found australia iceland japan new_zealand primarily north american distribution having found alaska southern alberta canadian rocky mountains semi idaho collected china known colombia discovered growing elevation nearly feet metres armenia edibility species family including considered sufficiently large interest humans food reports poisonous substances considered toxic humans species 1970s thought containing single species stance curtis gates lloyd taken early 20th century believing designation new species existence intermediate forms similar habitats close proximity discovered reported variants differed sufficiently justify naming new species specific epithet species refers like like form differs shape pink color slightly strongly curved spores typically found growing rotten wood soil colombia mycologist diameter tall cup shaped short cylindrical roughly parallel walls exterior surface tan yellow young age young specimens cover soon disappears broad tan white color disc shaped dry species grows material like twigs rich vegetable debris wood chips old immature fruiting body technically roughly spherical shape maturity base narrowed slightly relative appears like cup fruiting bodies usually tall wide mouth young mouth enclosed thin membrane called covered surface hairs fruiting body matures fruiting body expands exposing internal contents wall fruiting body single uniform layer closely interwoven hyphae form roughly thick wall structure contrast species bird nest fungus genus distinctly layered wall young species yellowish cover fine hairs external surface smooth fruiting body matures color changes brown old specimens grey dirty white inner surface fruiting body smooth shiny cups contain tiny pale white eggs technically termed usually diameter spore producing layer tissue hymenium layer largely composed basidia spore producing cells mixed non spore producing elements interspersed basidia covered thin membrane loosely woven hyphae known separated light colored black attached inner wall thin elastic cord extended length moist spores elliptical hyaline translucent smooth dimensions species characterized small dimensions wide mouth tall color range white grey pale buff yellow helping distinguish thin walled lip approximately thick edge lip outer smooth inner narrow base range width broad dimensions
Crucibulum