Convoluted to brain-like [Brain jelly & look-alikes]


The fruitbody of a fungus in this group has irregular folds, sometimes looking like a piece of cloth that has been scrunched up but the fruitbodies may also have a more convoluted to brain-like appearance.

 

There is no stem, so if you have something convoluted on a stem go to https://canberra.naturemapr.org/categories/guide/1705?1=1.

 

Most commonly seen are the jelly-like fruitbodies of the genus Tremella, which you find on wood. They may be white, yellow, orange or brown.

 

Warning

 

As conditions become drier Tremella fruitbodies lose their jelly-like texture, soon feel like firm rubber and eventually may become solid and unpliable. With dryness the convolutions become less intricate. Rewetting restores the initial texture and shape.

 

 If you find something convoluted to brain-like on soil you may have:

 

(1) A species of Hydnoplicata. The fruitbodies are fleshy to rubbery (never jelly-like) and dirty-white to pale brownish. They show gentle folds externally, but if cut often show much infolding. This genus is included with the truffles (https://canberra.naturemapr.org/categories/guide/1752?1=1).

 

 (2) A cyanobacterium, such as Nostoc (https://canberra.naturemapr.org/species/9060),  which is jelly-like and has a khaki to greenish colour when hydrated.

 


Convoluted to brain-like [Brain jelly & look-alikes]

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Discussion

Teresa wrote:
4 Jan 2025
This has the appearance of one of the jelly fungi maybe a Heterotextus sp or the beginnings of a Dacryopinax sp, not entirely sure

Heterotextus peziziformis
trevorpreston wrote:
10 Dec 2024
Definitely not sap, it was very jelly like and wobbly in consistency.

zz jelly-like puzzles
Heino1 wrote:
10 Dec 2024
I guess this is either a partly chewed/dried Tremella or Exidia - or sap from a tree.

zz jelly-like puzzles
Pam wrote:
5 Jul 2024
Thanks to Teresa it's now on the species list.

Dacryomyces stillatus
Pam wrote:
4 Jul 2024
Dacryomyces stillatus. Unfortunately this is not on the species list either. I've tried adding these fungi to the list - however unsuccessful - sorry!!

Dacryomyces stillatus

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Heterotextus peziziformis

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