Tremella sp.

Tremella at Wattamolla, NSW

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Identification history

Tremella sp.	28 Oct 2020	Pam
Tremella mesenterica	28 Oct 2020	Pam
Unidentified	27 Oct 2020	WattaWanderer

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User's notes

Growing on a small piece of rotten wood.

10 comments

Pam wrote:

28 Oct 2020

This species is normally bright yellow. However the colour may wash out if rained on. Which I suspect is the reason for the pale colour on this occasion as your images depict the conditions have been quite wet?! The hints of a yellow tinge deap in the fungus is my reason for going with this id. Though this is a lovely variation.

WattaWanderer wrote:

28 Oct 2020

Thanks Pam - Ok that is interesting, yes it definitely has been quite wet here. The other photo example of Tremella mesenterica on BCNM is another photo of mine, and the other one was much more translucent/jelly like. This fungus seemed to have a more classic non-translucent fungus structure to it... I wonder if they might be different species...

If I manage to find it again I will see if it changes colour any further.

WattaWanderer wrote:

28 Oct 2020

It is also only faintly visible in the third photo, but it looked as though this fungus possibly had white spores on the underside. Certainly the top side was more yellow, the underside whiter...
I'm not sure if this helps for Tremella mesenterica..

Pam wrote:

28 Oct 2020

I would expect this genus to have white or pale coloured spores. The disadvantage of trying to identify from an image.... one doesn't always understand or be able to clearly see the features fully. As you have had the advantage of seeing this fungus and also other examples of the T. mesenterica I will be guided by your observations and re identify it to just the genus Tremella. If this is the true colour of the species it looks like a new species. A delightful looking fungus. Again well done and thank you for your additional information.

WattaWanderer wrote:

28 Oct 2020

OK interesting to learn re the spores.

Very fair point re the challenge of using photos! Is there anything that you would recommend that I do to check if it is indeed something new? I can certainly try to find it again...
Should I take a sample?

WattaWanderer wrote:

29 Oct 2020

Further to this query -I have uploaded some of these photos to another forum and someone has suggested Xylaria flabelliformis. There are some images at this link that look quite similar: https://mushroomobserver.org/observer/index_observation?q=1WDLw&fbclid=IwAR20qpOar3JbM5LFdFVw75-v0DJQYF6k1QrOWnhuEWoKKjPqjT1ayKmQ8Lo

WattaWanderer wrote:

29 Oct 2020

However, they are in the US...

Pam wrote:

29 Oct 2020

You have done some great research here. Yes it does look like Xylaria flabelliformis and from what I can gather it has been thought to be recorded at Cowdroy Creek south of you. Though looking at the image it appears, as do many of the other images to have pointy tips whereas your specimen has more rounded edges to the outer edges. That aside you specimen has many of the characteristics of this species. I would love it if you could get a sample to Michael Priest at the Department of Primary Industries fungal herbarium at Orange. If you contact Michael on Michael.priest53 and ask him how he would like you to approach this. Have you any way of drying an example? How exciting is this..........

Pam wrote:

29 Oct 2020

Ooops - somehow or other I've managed to delete Michael's email address - it is
Michael.priest53

Pam wrote:

29 Oct 2020

By the way I forgot to mention that Xylaria flabelliformis is now a synonym and the currently accepted name is apparently Xylaria cubensis

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