Jelly and Brains Tuesday 7th February 2017

When the forecast for this morning said "isolated heavy showers" they were not wrong, I thought I had better try and find out where one of the young cattle had managed to escape from on Sunday, yes another escapee but successfully rounded up and returned to the herd.

I could see the sky darkening in the west so set off at a pace, there was no sign of any gaps in the fence so maybe the beast had jumped over, they can be very nimble.

My attention was drawn to a jelly like substance on the side of the path, closer examination showed it was one of the Jelly Fungus species; I took the obligatory photographs and sent them off to Dr Philip Jones to confirm its identity.

Philip soon replied with:-

This is Yellow Brain = Tremella mesenterica and often on gorse but may be seen on a wide range of trees/shrubs.  Best seen during winter months after lots of rain ---- if dries out just forms a crust on the wood then rehydrates with rain.  Tremella species are what is known as 'jelly-fungi' as they 'wobble'.  Part of the picture shows it is white as spores have gone or developed into the asexual spore stage.  It is thought that most of these  jelly-fungi are parasitic on an inconspicuous fungus on the wood but not on the wood itself.

Thanks to Philip for the confirmation..

Yellow Brain Jelly fungus Tremella mesenterica