Tremella aurantia Schwein. (1822)
‘Golden Ear’, ‘Yellow Brain Jelly’ or ‘Witches Butter'
Unlike the more distantly related Dacrymyces chrysospermus which is saprotrophic on debarked conifer wood, all species in the genus Tremella are parasitic. Tremella aurantia is parasitic on the mycelium of Stereum hirsutum growing in dead hardwood, especially of oak and beech.
Tremella mesenterica and Tremella aurantia look very much the same. Both species are bright yellow, gelatinous and become more reddish orange when they dry up. Both species grow on debarked wood of broadleaved trees. Tremella aurantia is a bit larger, drier and duller in appearance. All species swell up again in wet weather, produce and then release mature spores. Like other jelly fungi in the Tremellaceae family, it is consiered edible, if tasteless.
Tremella aurantia