Fungi ident

[essexjack]

[Paul in the woods]

What tree are they growing on? Looks similar to an ornamental elder I have.

 

The fungi look like Jelly Ears, aka wood ears etc, Auricularia auricula-judae.

Edited March 8, 2020 by Paul in the woods

[essexjack]

What tree are they growing on? Looks similar to an ornamental elder I have.
 
The fungi look like Jelly Ears, aka wood ears etc, Auricularia auricula-judae.

It was on an oak tree

[Paul in the woods]

It might be Witches' Butter, Exidia glandulosa, https://www.first-nature.com/fungi/exidia-glandulosa.php

 

More pics here: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Exidia_glandulosa

 

Not something I'm that familiar with.

[Sam Archer]

I would certainly agree with the initial assessment of Auricularia auricula-judae; this fungus is saprophytic.

I can only assume you are inquiring for academic purposes rather than for a client? 

 

[daltontrees]

Almost certainly Jelly Ear. Very common.

[Michael h]

My vote goes to Exidia Glandulosa. if you zoom in you can see the characteristic pimples which are not present in jelly ear. The form/habit also fits better for exidia.

i see it fairly frequently on fallen Oak branches with bark still attached

[daltontrees]

3 hours ago, Michael h said:

My vote goes to Exidia Glandulosa. if you zoom in you can see the characteristic pimples which are not present in jelly ear. The form/habit also fits better for exidia.

i see it fairly frequently on fallen Oak branches with bark still attached

Funny enough I looked for the pimples and couldn't see them and that was one factor in my leaning towards Auricularia. Isn't Exidia yellow when dessicated, and dark only when hydrated?

I confess, I'm in Scotland and Auricularia is very common here but Exidia isn't even on my radar. So I could be wrong but it would be good to put it on my radar only from a position of reliable identification features.

An additional confusion is that Tremella mesenterica is also known as Witches Butter.