Tremella sp.

1 Tremella at Cooma North Ridge Reserve

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Identification history

Tremella sp.	12 Jan 2024	Heino1
Tremella mesenterica	11 Jan 2024	Csteele4
Tremella sp.	11 Jan 2024	mahargiani

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User's notes

On underside of wet decaying wood. Virtually transparent

9 comments

Heino1 wrote:

12 Jan 2024

While there can be striking colour variants in fungi (e.g. albino forms of normally coloured species) I am loathe to call this Tremella mesenterica, since pale brownish species of Tremella (or Tremella-like genera) exist. For example, I once collected a specimen of what I called Tremella encephala (now Naematelia encephala), on pine wood alongside Corin Road. Here (https://www.anbg.gov.au/fungi/images-captions/tremella-encephala-0157.html) is a photo of part of that collection. And here (https://www.anbg.gov.au/fungi/images-captions/tremella-encephala-cut-0158.html) you see it cross-section. This species parasitizes the fruit bodies of another fungus and the white core in the second photo is the host fungus. Naematelia encephala has long been known in Europe, with the host fungus being Stereum sanguinolentum, which grow on conifers. There are other brown Tremella(-like) species but how many occur in our region I do not know – and I cannot say anything about the identity of this sighting.

Csteele4 wrote:

12 Jan 2024

@heino1 I can certainly see your point there, but my feeling on this sighting is that this is an older specimen of T mesenterica, which has lost its colour. I've seen clumps of this fungi fade, particularly in hot weather, from orange to brown as it decays.

You could very likely be correct, but something I've found both from my work as a mod on a FB group and on here is that photos, when it comes to fungi, aren't a fantastic resource for ID. Quite happy for you to change this confirmation to Tremella sp.!

mahargiani wrote:

12 Jan 2024

I am happy either way. I initially said Tremella sp because T mesenterica photos all seemed to show a strongly coloured fungus (along with some caveats about occasionally being almost transparent) and also isolated specimens rather than a fairly extensive colony (my photos only showed part of it). With most fungi, I happy to get to genus level of identification, especially the smaller ones.

Heino1 wrote:

12 Jan 2024

Christina, your experience of watching clumps of Tremella mesenterica fade from orange to brown is very interesting and gives me pause. The species obviously shows a variety of reactions to heat since I’ve seen twigs with hard, naturally dried fruitbodies that are still yellow/orange – sometimes even with a more intense colour than you see in hydrated fruitbodies – but I haven’t watched a given clump over time.

Certainly a look just now at dried herbarium specimens shows both brown and orange – but they are puckered and obviously dehydrated. When I looked at this photo the fruitbodies still seemed fairly well-hydrated and so assumed they were in prime (or nearly-prime) condition and a brownish species. The drawn-back photo seems to support the prime-condition assumption. I think it shows numerous primordial fruitbodies, rather than markedly dried and shrunken fruitbodies.

Your comment about photos is spot-on and means that at times all you can do is to give an ID only if a photo shows the ‘classic’ features of a genus/species. Given that this doesn’t show the classic features I’ll put it back to Tremella for now. However, there is still a nagging question at the back of my mind: Is this really something else instead, e.g. a species of Exidia?

mahargiani wrote:

12 Jan 2024

Heino. Is there anything we can easily do to check for Exidia v Tremella? I am not likely to be able to find the specimen again, but do still have a small portion I collected in the hope of obtaining better photographs at home (unsuccessful).

Heino1 wrote:

12 Jan 2024

The differences are in microscopic details, though in each genus some species would be easy (or fairly easy) to recognize. The deep black Exidia glandulosa (which I've never seen) would be an example.

Csteele4 wrote:

12 Jan 2024

@Heino1 I agree with everything you've said here, and am grateful for your skills! I'm a field ecologist, so I have very limited experience behind the microscope when it comes to fungi (apart from occasionally when I'm up at uni), and rely on observation, which certainly leaves room for error, particularly in tricky species. Finding these conversations enlightening, and enjoying the learning I'm getting from them - thank you!

Heino1 wrote:

19 Jan 2024

Given my previous mention of Exidia, I thought I’d study a specimen I collected some years ago but had so far ignored. I had wondered if it was an Exidia so yesterday I studied it microscopically and it fits Exidia. Bear in mind that the taxonomy of many jelly fungi is still confused so it might end up belonging elsewhere, but it is not a Tremella. The relevant sighting: https://canberra.naturemapr.org/sightings/4546031.

Csteele4 wrote:

19 Jan 2024

@Heino1 I noticed your confirmation and was intrigued! I'm tempted to take some specimens up to Armidale with me when I go up to UNE next month, as regrettably, I don't have access to a microscope at home.

@mahargiani if you find anything you'd like me to have a look at under the microscope, I'm happy to drive down to Cooma and collect to take up with me. Nice to meet you, yesterday!

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