Crucibulum laeve (Huds.) Kambly
Family: Agaricaceae
Common Bird
Crucibulum laeve image
National Mushroom Centre  
Mata, M., D. Penjor and S. Pradham. 2010. Fungi of Bhutan. National Mushroom Centre, Ministry of Agriculture and Forests, Thimphu, Bhutan.

Local name: No local name known

Edibility: Unknown

Habitat: Solitary to densely gregariously on woodland debris.

Description: Fruit bodies: Up to 1 cm tall and 15 mm across, at first cushion-shaped to round, and closed, later becoming cup-shaped, the lid disappearing. Outer surface:  Yellowish at first and darkening to nearly brown when matures, velvety or fairly smooth. Inner surface:  Smooth and shiny, whitish to pale cinnamon coloured. Eggs: Up to 2 mm wide, shaped like flattened circles or ellipses, tough, attached to the nest by tiny cords and it is pale in colour.

Comments: This attractive little fungus is easily identified by its whitish eggs that are initially attached to the nest by thin cords. It lacks the sticky mucilage and the eggs are never black as in Cyathus. Another species, Crucibulum parvulum is a similar but minute species with a white to greyish or buff exterior.

Crucibulum laeve image
Alvarado, Eduardo  
Crucibulum laeve image
Alvarado, Eduardo