page_title: Nidula
section_title: Species
hierarchical_section_title: Nidula / Species
caption_attribution_description: English: The bird's nest fungi Nidula niveo-tomentosa (Henn.) Lloyd. Specimen photographed at the SOMA Camp, Occidental, Sonoma Co., California, USA.
context_page_description: Nidula is a genus of fungi in the family Agaricaceae. Their fruit bodies resemble tiny egg-filled birds' nests, from which they derive their common name "bird's nest fungi". Originally described in 1902, the genus differs from the related genera Cyathus and Crucibulum by the absence of a cord that attaches the eggs to the inside of the fruit body. The life cycle of this genus allows it to reproduce both sexually, with meiosis, and asexually via spores. Species in this genus produce a number of bioactive compounds, including 4--2-butanone, a major component of raspberry flavor and insect attractor used in pesticides.
context_section_description: There are five extant and one extinct species of Nidula:
  N. baltica
  Described in 2014 from a fossil found in Baltic amber.
  N. candida
  Peridia are 10 to 15 mm tall, grey to dark buff, with a recurved rim at maturity. The peridioles are 1.5–2 mm wide, and light grey-brown, and smooth. The spores are elliptical, with dimensions of 4–6 by 8–10 µm.
  N. macrocarpa
  Peridia are 5 to 10 mm tall, and white to yellowish in color; the rim is either straight or slightly recurved. Peridioles are 0.5 to 1 mm wide, wrinkled, and colored red-brown. Spores are elliptical or roughly spherical, with dimensions of 6–9 by 5–6 µm.
  N. niveo-tomentosa
  Peridia are 4–6 mm tall with rims that have a fringe of white hairs. Peridioles are mahogany-brown and 0.5–1 mm wide. Spores have an elliptical or roughly spherical shape, and are 6–9 by 5–6 µm.
  N. emodensis
  Peridia are 4–6 mm tall by 4–5 mm wide at the mouth. The exterior surface is a grey color, the interior smooth and whitish. Peridioles are reddish-brown to black, have minute wrinkles, and dimensions of 0.5–1 mm. The spores are somewhat elliptical, obovate, or pyriform.
  N. shingbaensis
  Peridia are 6–9 mm tall by 5–7 mm wide at the mouth. Found in India, it differs from other Nidula in having a six-layered peridium.
caption: N. niveo-tomentosa
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