Bird's Nest Fungus

How obscure can fungi species get?

At Bunyip State Park Buttongrass Walk

The tiny Bird’s-nest Fungus, Nidula emodensis, measures only a few millimetres across. Inside the ‘nest’ are egg-like peridioles that contain the spore. The peridioles are scattered by raindrops that fall into the nest (not by a spring action built into the fungus as proposed by early researchers!).

At labertouche Creek Bushland Reserve

Nidula emodensis grows on decaying wood and or humus and is not a particularly uncommon fungus except that it is often missed due to its tiny size. There are several species in the genera. N. emdoensis usually appears in autumn.