Yellow brain - Tremella mesenterica

[Bill S]

Hi folks

This photo took a bit of getting but I'd be very grateful if someone could confirm my tentative ID as Tremella mesenterica, or Yellow brain. I found it in a few local trees, I think it's occuring in mostly Oaks but that is tentative too. Size was about the size of a large walnut, but other patches I've seen were more like the size of a small bunch of grapes.



This was the lowest one I was able to find but still way above head height.
For anyone interested I mounted my camera on a tripod and held the tripod by it's base up into the trees resting the camera on a lower branch. Using a wireless remote I had to rely on aiming and hoping for the best but I could see the LCD review screen so could alter composition gradually after each shot (a lot ended in the recycle bin). The hardest thing was getting the camera/lens to focus and lock (it won't take a picture while in autofocus if the focus isn't locked) and at the short range it was taken at (around 30cm) I couldn't use manual focus because I couldn't rely on the range info on the lens for an accurate focus. Ideally I would have preferred to be a bit further away but I just couldn't get that angle (ivy in the way, and nothing to rest the camera against)

I was going to take a step ladder to the tree to get a shot but the snow meant walking there so that wasn't an option.

Thanks in advance

Cheers

Bill

[mollisia]

Hello Bill,

this is indeed either Tremmela mesenterica or its close relative Tremella aurantiaca. These two are only distinguishable by spore size or by the host they parasitize. So no chance to tell you from this picture which one it oculd be, but one of the two with certainty!

best regards,
Andreas

[Bill S]

Arh yes, many thanks Andreas much obliged.

Bill

[fairplay]

So you will have to use your ladder after all.

Neil.