Scientific name: Tremella mesenterica Retz.
Derivation of name: Mesenter- means "middle intestine."
Synonyms: Tremella lutescens Pers.
Common name(s): Witch's butter.
Phylum: Basidiomycota
Order: Tremellales
Family: Tremellaceae
Occurrence on wood substrate: Saprobic; clustered on
decaying deciduous wood; year-round.
Dimensions: Fruitbody 2.5-10 cm wide and 3-4 cm high.
Description: Brain-like to multilobed gelatinous mass; pale
yellow to orange-yellow, dark orange on drying.
Edibility: Edible.
Comments: Witch's butter can dry down and rehydrate
many times. Compare to Dacrymyces palmatus, a species
similar in appearance. Dacrymyces palmatus grows on conifer
wood and has a white point of attachment.
More information at MushroomExpert.com:
More information at TomVolkFungi.net:
Figure 1. Irregularly lobed, gelatinous mass of Tremella
mesenterica. Photo © William Roody.
|

Figure 2. Another view of Witch's Butter. Photo © Pam
Kaminski.

Figure 3. Tremella mesenterica. Photo © George
Barron.
|