Archive for June 5th, 2006
extension.umn.edu
Rebecca Brown
Bird’s nest fungi (Mycocalia, Nidularia, Nidula, Cyathus, and Crucibulum spp.), sphere throwers (Sphaerobolus spp.), and shotgun fungi (Pilobolus spp.) are three separate groups of fungi with many similarities.
Bird’s nest fungi, sphere throwers, and shotgun fungi are all saprophytes, which grow on manure or decaying wood. Since these fungi live only on decaying plant matter, they do not harm living plants. In the garden, the tiny (under 1/4 inch tall) fungi are usually found on the surface of soil, which has been enriched with manure, sawdust, or wood chips. They can also be found on old boards used to edge garden beds and on wooden plant labels and stakes. The fungi are usually spread in manure, however, some species may occur as contaminants within seed mixes.
All of these fungi can forcibly eject their spores in hard egg-like structures called peridioles. These structures can be ejected one yard or more. The sticky spore cases adhere to plant foliage and other surfaces, including home siding and patio furniture.
These fungi are rarely noticed unless they are brought indoors on container-grown plants. The first sign is shiny black or dark brown objects resembling seeds or insects on the leaves. These are the egg-like structures that have been ejected by the fungi. If unsightly, they can be picked off the leaves. To help control these fungi, remove any fungal fruiting bodies from the surface of the soil. Repotting the plant in a potting medium that does not contain manure or wood should prevent the fungi from returning Bird’s nest fungi look like miniature bird’s nests or cups. The shiny peridioles are nestled inside like eggs. Usually only 1/4 inch in height or diameter, the nests are commonly light brown but may be white, gray, yellow, or rust colored. The shiny peridioles are generally black or dark brown but may also be white. Immature fruiting bodies look like tiny puffballs, which open into cups as they mature. The peridioles of bird’s nest fungi are splashed out of the nest by falling water drops. The dimensions and shape of the nest are such that the force of a water drop hitting the bottom of the cup is enough to throw the peridioles over one yard from the nest. When a peridiole strikes a solid object such as a leaf or twig, it adheres to the surface in one of two ways. Fungi in the genera Mycocalia, Nidularia and Nidula have sticky peridioles. In the genera Cyathus and Crucibulum, the peridiole is attached to the nest by a coiled cord. When the peridiole is ejected from the nest, the cord separates from the nest, giving the peridiole a four-inch tail. The end of the tail is sticky. When it sticks to a twig or stem, the peridiole swings around its anchor point, wrapping the cord around the stem. Most bird’s nest fungi in Minnesota belong to Cyathus or Crucibulum.
Sphere throwers (Sphaerobolus spp.) grow on rotting wood in many of the same places as bird’s nest fungi. The whitish or yellowish-pink immature fruiting bodies are round balls similar to immature bird’s nest fungi. As the fruiting bodies mature, the outer layer of the ball peels back to form a cup with a single spherical peridiole inside. This cup is actually two cups, one inside the other, joined at the rim. Pressure builds up between the two cups, eventually causing the inner cup to explosively invert, or turn inside out. The force of the inversion launches the peridiole, which can travel more than five yards before sticking to any surface it impacts.
Shotgun fungi (Pilobolus spp.) grow mostly on old horse manure. The clear, glasslike fruiting body consists of a slender stalk topped with a swollen bulb. A shiny black peridiole rests on top of the bulb. Pilobolus always bends toward the light, which ensures the clearest path for the peridiole to travel. The fungus senses the direction of the light with light sensitive pigments at the base of the bulb. As long as these pigments are illuminated, they send a signal to bend. The bending stops when the opaque peridiole is pointing directly at the light source, shading the pigments. If Pilobolus is grown in the dark, the stalks will all point straight up. The swollen bulb is filled with sugar, which absorbs water until the pressure inside the bulb is five times the pressure outside. As the fruiting body matures, the walls weaken under the peridiole. Eventually the pressure causes the bulb to rupture, sending the sticky peridiole flying.
These ballistic fungi, each with its unique method of spore dispersal, can be a fascinating introduction to the world of fungi. A careful search of the damp corners of your garden in the fall will probably reveal numerous bird’s nest fungi, sphere throwers, and shotgun fungi.
References
Alexopoulos, C.J. and C.W. Mims, Introductory Mycology, 3rd ed. John Wiley and Sons, New York, 1979.
Brodie, H.J., The Bird’s Nest Fungi. University of Toronto Press, Toronto, 1975.
Brodie, H.J., Fungi–Delight of Curiosity. University of Toronto Press, Toronto, 1978. [Written in non-technical terms; an interesting introduction to many common fungi] Carolina Biological Supply Company sells cultures of Pilobolus and bird’s nest fungi. 2700 York Road, Burlington, NC 27215 (919) 584-0381 or (800) 334-5551.
P321B
Revised 2/2000
Chad Behrendt, Crystal Floyd
June 5th, 2006
asiachi.com
Yanwo or Bird’s Nest, is the salivary secretion of the male sea swifts which consume marine organisms. This sticky secretion is regurgitated to form nests. These bird’s nests are found in dangerous and hard to reach locations like cliffs, overhanging crags and steep deep caves.
Due to its ability to prevent internal dryness, bird’s nest is especially known to be useful in maintaining youth and enhancing a smooth and wrinkle-free complexion. It is considered a superior tonic for woman.
Since it also helps stimulate appetite and aids digestion, Bird’s Nest is ideal for the elderly and children, both men and women. It provides an unique pre-digested form of protein and nutrients that will help speed up Bird’s Nest Products
recovery of chronic illness. Pregnant women are especially encouraged to consume Bird’s Nest because it is believed that the baby will have a beautiful glowing complexion.
The best quality are those that are clean without feathers, a complete whole unbroken piece and those originating from the Indonesian coasts.
House/land swallow’s nests are known to be therapeutic in the Chinese medical classics but the nests of the sea swallows were introduced to China only about 400 years ago. Admiral Cheng Ho, ambassador of 15th Century China, discovered the superior delicacy of sea bird’s nests while sailing through Southeast Asian seas. From that time onwards, the Chinese have enjoyed bird’s nest as medicinal gourmet food.
June 5th, 2006
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people.cornell.edu
What method of composting is:
–free?*
–uses only natural materials that you have around?*
–blends into the environment most harmoniously?*
The bird’s nest bin, also known as the binless bin, is a naturally constructed compost bin that you build out of the large, coarse plant materials that you have around the yard. Instead of throwing the big stalky stuff, like broccoli and kale plants, prunings from bushes, sunflower stalks, etc., into one pile together with the small, easy-to-degrade stuff like young weeds and kitchen food waste, they are separated so that the heavy-duty materials make up the walls and the finer materials are in the center. What a simple concept and how beautifully it works!
Without so much bulky material mixed in, the finer materials get to break down faster. The bin looks much neater than if everything is thrown together. Reminiscent of a bird’s nest, the binless bin blends naturally into the landscape with charm and character. No need to buy plastic bins or build other structures.
It’s easy to make a bird’s nest bin. Pound four stakes into the ground to make a square four to six feet wide. These will provide all the structural support you need. Within the square, lay a few stalks crisscross on top of each other on the ground. This will allow some air to come through the bottom of the pile and be drawn upward through the pile to enhance breakdown. Around the perimeter, lay down your coarse materials to make walls eight to ten inches thick: big weeds, spent vegetable plants and flowers, prunings from shrub or trees, edges of sod you’ve dug up, old hay if you’ve got an excess of it–whatever you’ve got around, that you want to get rid of.
The center of the pile is reserved for the small stuff and the rotten stuff. Add food waste from the kitchen, the little weeds from the garden, the rotten fruit found under the trees. Always remember to cover up any food waste so as not to invite animals. Try to have a supply on hand at all times of something, like weeds, leaves, wood chips, or straw, to layer in with your food scraps and cover it up. If you don’t have enough leaves of your own, there’s a plentiful supply every fall, when people kindly leave these bags full of the precious compost ingredient (and excellent mulching material, but that’s another story) on the curb.
Keep the walls higher than the center at all times, so nothing falls out. Once the bin is a few feet high, after a garden season, you can let it sit and start another. After a year or so the interior of the bin left sitting will become dark compost, unrecognizable in origin, ready to enrich your garden. The wall material will have only partially broken down and can be re-used for a new bin.
Eventually you might want to expand to a three-bin unit. The bin in the middle shares a wall with the other two. This way you can always have one bin sitting and ripening; another to add to, and the third for harvesting finished compost.
Try it and see the magic of composting for yourself!
June 5th, 2006
nhm.org
During the breeding season, a bird’s nest provides an environment for its eggs to develop. Some birds don’t build a nest, but instead lay their eggs directly on the ground, in a hole, or even on a bare branch. In other species, nests are elaborate works of avian architecture.
Nest size, shape, and building materials vary greatly among birds. Nest placement and design, along with the behavior of the parents and young, combine to provide protection from temperature extremes and from predators. Birds instinctively know how to build the type of nest characteristic of its species.
Woodpeckers excavate their nests in tree trunks or branches. These nest cavities offer safety from predators and a comfortable micro climate for the eggs and young.
Many female hornbills build their nests in tree cavities and are then sealed in by their mates. Their mates feed them through a small hole, while they incubate the eggs and care for the chicks. These “fortresses” protect them from predators, such as snakes.
Many tropical birds construct hanging nests, which help keep the occupants out of predator’s reach and protect them from heavy rainfall. Some nests have a fake entrance that dead-ends to trick predatory snakes.
The most frequent type of nest among North American songbirds, such as the robins, is a simple cup usually lined with fine grass or other soft material.
Many colonial seabirds, such as Elegant Terns, make no nest, but simply lay their eggs in a shallow scrape in the sand or rocky ground. The eggs are not camouflaged. Predators are scarce and the eggs get a measure of protection from “safety in numbers” within the large colonies.
MANY WAYS TO BUILD A NEST
Tailorbirds of Southeast Asia sew leaves together to build a funnel-shaped nest. Using their sharp bills like needles, these tiny birds pierce holes along the edges of large green leaves. They thread plant fibers through the holes and knot them so the stitches won’t fall apart.
The Edible-nest Swiftlet of Southeast Asia makes its nest entirely out of hardened saliva. The saliva looks like spaghetti when fresh, but hardens when exposed to the air. These translucent nests are the main ingredient of the Chinese delicacy- bird’s nest soup. To gather the nests for bird’s nest soup, collectors climb hundreds of feet up ladders. Thousands of nests (about 20 to 30 tons) are exported from Borneo each year.
The Nuiafo’ou Megapode lives only on one tiny volcanic island in the South Pacific. The female buries her eggs in the volcanic ash near the rim of the crater, relying on the heat from the volcano to incubate them.
Some birds, such as Eurasian Cuckoos, lay their eggs in the nests of other birds. Cuckoos lay eggs that mimic those of the host species in color. After hatching, the young cuckoo shoves the other eggs and young out of the nest. The foster parents devote all their energy to raising the young cuckoo that grows larger than themselves.
June 5th, 2006