Dacrymyces chrysospermus

Dacrymyces stillatus - Common Jellyspot

Taxonomy

Phylum: Basidiomycota

Class: Dacrymycetes

Order: Dacrymycetales

Family: Dacrymycetaceae

Gregarious or in merging groups on dead conifer wood, including fence posts and rails, this uncommon fungus has a preference for timber that is already fairly well rotted.

The fruitbodies can appear at any time of the year during periods of wet weather; this is also a characteristic of many other members of the order Dacrymycetales. (Picture: Doug Holland)

Syn: Dacromyces palmatus

Identification Guide

Fruitbody

Orange-yellow, but almost white at the point of attachment, becoming reddish-brown and more translucent when dry; irregularly lobed or brain-like blobs, slightly flattened; 1 to 2.5cm tall and up to 6cm wide.

Spores

Pale yellow.

Odour/taste

Not distinctive.

Habitat

On rotting trunks and stumps of dead conifers.

Season

Fruiting from spring to the onset of winter.

Occurrence

Uncommon.

Similar species

Dacrymyces stillatus, another orange jelly-like species, produces smaller, cushion-like fruitbodies and occurs on hardwoods as well as softwoods.

Tremella mesenterica produces fruitbodies of similar colour but the lobes are often larger and generally more convoluted; its spores are white.