A bright yellow gelatinous fungus that looks like a clump of brain-shaped lobes. Edible but mostly insipid; sometimes used in soups in East Asian cuisine.

Also called: Witch's Butter, Yellow Brain, Yellow Trembler

Native status: Native; cosmopolitan

§ Quick facts

SizeFruiting body 2–10 cm wide; gelatinous mass
Weight5–50 g (most is water)
LifespanFruiting body weeks; mycelium persists
OrderTremellales
FamilyTremellaceae

§ Encyclopedia

Tremella mesenterica is a common jelly fungus in the family Tremellaceae of the Agaricomycotina. The gelatinous, orange-yellow fruit body of the fungus, which can grow up to 7.5 cm (3 in) diameter, has a convoluted or lobed surface that is greasy or slimy when damp.

Source: Wikipedia — Tremella mesenterica Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

§ Identification

Field marks. Bright yellow to golden-orange, gelatinous, brain-shaped or fluted mass; soft and rubbery when fresh; shrivels and hardens in dry weather.

Similar species. Orange Jelly Fungus (Dacrymyces palmatus — different structure). Black Witch's Butter (different color). Witch's Butter (T. mesenterica — true synonym, the same species).

Voice. N/A

§ Diet & behavior

Diet. Parasitic — grows on Stereum and other wood-decay fungi (lives off the energy of other fungi already decomposing wood).

Behavior. Brilliant yellow-orange gelatinous mushroom that appears after rain. Belongs to the small group of fungi that parasitize other fungi rather than directly consuming wood — it grows specifically on Stereum (crust fungi) and related species, taking nutrients from the host fungus. Edible (though has minimal flavor and is mostly used in soups for texture). Traditional Chinese medicine uses related species.

§ Range

Across temperate North America

§ Habitat

Decaying hardwood branches and logs

§ Threats

Loss of dead-wood habitat.

§ Conservation status

According to the IUCN Red List, the yellow jelly fungus is currently classified as Least Concern.

§ What helps

Leave dead branches and logs in place. Don't over-collect from single fruitings.

Support our work More ways to help

§ Further reading

§ Sources cited

  • North American Mycological Association
  • Mycological Society of America
  • iNaturalist