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JELLY FUNGI

Basidiomycota - Phragmobasidiomycetes

As the common name suggests, the fruitbodies of most jelly fungi are in a gelatinous matrix. In dry weather fruitbodies lose water to form irregular, horny masses which shrivel and almost disappear to the naked eye. In rainy weather, the gelatin absorbs water rapidly and the fruitbodies recover their normal shape, size and colour and resume spore production. This ability to revive allows jelly fungi to persist for many weeks and explains why they appear so quickly after rain.

Jelly fungi are not as species rich as other groups. A few, such as Dacrymyces palmatus (orange jelly), are both colourful and common. For the most part jelly fungi are too small, too scattered or too infrequent to be important as edibles. There are exceptions and the "Apricot Jelly Fungus" (Tremiscus helvelloides) is appreciated by some. Although it does not have much flavour, the delicate pink/apricot/orange colouring makes it an attractive dressing in salads. You can also find cans or bags of white jelly fungus (Tremella) imported from the Orient on the grocer's shelf or in Chinese or Japanese specialty food stores. Again, they are an interesting food additive but, for flavour, do not have much to offer.

Some fungi belonging to the "jelly group"(Tremellales) are not obviously gelatinous. For example, Tremellodendron pallidum has dry, flattened branches. Microscopically, it is related to the jelly fungi but looks more like a coral fungus. Unlike most coral fungi, however, its branches are tough, persistent and almost woody in texture. Calocera viscosa, also resembles a coral fungus. But Calocera is tough, persistent, and can revive in wet weather. In coral fungi, fruitbodies are fragile, break easily and decay quickly. The delicate, fragile nature of the coral fungus is the easiest way to distinguish it from a jelly fungus. For the specialist, microscopic characters show that in Tremellodendron, the spore mother cell is partially divided into four compartments while in Calocera the spore mother cell is tuning fork-shaped. In true coral fungi the spore mother cell is undivided and club-shaped. In mycology these differences are regarded as important.

The true jelly fungi belong to the Basidiomycota (the spores are borne externally on basidia). Some sac fungi, such as Ascotremella and Neobulgaria, mimic the true jellies and also produce fruitbodies in a gelatinous matrix. In appearance, Ascotremella is unlike most other sac fungi and resembles a typical jelly fungus. Microscopic analysis, however, confirms that the spore mother cells are asci (spores formed internally) not basidia (spores borne externally). This is an example of how unrelated organisms can evolve to the same endpoint.