Species details
Orange jelly spot
Dacrymyces chrysospermus
Inedible
Photo: Joydeep · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Photo source · License
Description
A bright-yellow to orange-yellow jelly fungus on conifer wood that develops from tiny dots into irregular fan-like clusters.
Identification features
Fruitbodies are about 1–4 cm wide, irregular to fan-shaped, bright yellow with orange tones, soft, trembling and nearly translucent-gelatinous. The stem is very short or absent.
Identification checklist
Check for bright-yellow to orange-yellow gelatinous fan-like growth on dead conifer wood.
How to separate similar species
Tremella mesenterica is also yellow and gelatinous but is characteristically associated with hardwood. Substrate is important; unclear specimens require expert confirmation.
Habitat
Grows in groups on dead conifer wood during wet periods, mainly from summer into winter.
Fruiting period
July, August, September, October, November, December
Similar species
- Yellow brain (Tremella mesenterica)
- Dacrymyces species
- Brown pine jelly (Exidia saccharina)