Is This Witches Butter ?

[Lancashire Lad]

Found today on a fallen branch, in a Beech/Oak wood. - Thought it might possibly be Exidia Glandulosa, but the upper surface isn't "felty".

.......Upper Surface...............Underside


The thing that's confusing me is this clear jelly (below) was between two of the above - is it likely to be another type altogether, or a different stage of the above?

Jelly in middle of group.........Jelly Close-up


Any clue as to identification would be appreciated.

Regards
Mike.

[KeenTeen17]

1) exidia glandulosa
2) tremella mesenterica

[NickCantle]

I think this is all just E. glandulosa. As for the clear substance in your second image, I would say it's too similar in stature to the other specimens to be anything different.

[mollisia]

Hallo,

I also would say it's all Exidia glandulosa.

Have I said, that albinos also occure in Exidia? Albinotic forms seem to be not so rare as one would think when thinking of animals.
There is a colourless form (not washed out by weather, but hyaline from the beginning!) of Tremella mesenterica, which is named f. crystallina.
And there is an albino of Exidia plana, which has no name as far as I know, but I have not searched very intensly. I swear that the picture of this albino is taken without touching anything on this twig. They were growing just as you see it on the foto.



In the case above I would rather think of a discolouration by age or weather, not of an albinotic form.

best regards,
Andreas

[Lancashire Lad]

Thanks everyone - I've definitely learned a bit more today.

Best regards
Mike.

[NickCantle]

Originally Posted by mollisia

There is a colourless form (not washed out by weather, but hyaline from the beginning!) of Tremella mesenterica, which is named f. crystallina.

We had a similar species, Tremella lutescens, that was thought to be a separate species from T. mesenterica, but it was later proven that it was just a weathered form. Now this provokes some interesting thought! You say you have a species called F. crystallina? Do you think it's possible that it grows this side of the Channel? If so, people may have recorded T. lutescens, then had to change the record to T. mesenterica, and looking back, may have originally found the species you describe.

[mollisia]

Hallo Nick,

it is not a species "F. crystallina" but only a "forma crystallina" of T. mesentercia. This is hyalin from the very beginning to the end, what makes it different from the taxon lutescens, which is pale yellow. This lutescens I'm sure is only a lesser pigmentated form of mesenterica (or aurantia also?!) where the colours have faded by climatic influence.
I'm convinced those completely hyalin forms also occure in Great Britain, why shouldn't they?

best regards,
Andreas