Orange Jelly Mushroom
Yea, I know these are a lot more yellow than orange but the color varies. This jelly mushroom is supposed to be edible but it sure doesn’t look it to me.
Dacrymyces palmatus

This jelly mushroom seems to prefer dead Hemlock. It’s supposed to grow on conifers in general but the only thing I’ve seen it growing on around here are the dead Hemlocks.
Orange Jelly fungus can grow from early spring to late fall this far north. This photo is from Jan. 27 when I found some frozen jelly. Back then I could only make an educated guess at the identity of the frozen jelly blob.

A good soaking rain can bring on a growth spurt at any time. That was the case here where it’s now easy to see the white base of the fungus. The white point of attachment is a good indicator of the identity.

Another common name sometimes used is Orange Witch’s Butter but it should not be confused with the ‘real’ Witch’s Butter – Tremella mesenterica. They may look similar but they’re no relation. The best way to tell them apart is by the type of wood they grow on. While the jelly depends on dead conifer the butter grows from dead hardwoods.
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Scarlet Elf Cup Mushroom
Someday I just might get the name of these mushrooms correct. I have no idea what possessed me to call them Caps when they are obviously Cups. At least I got the scientific names straightened out the last time I found some on March 15th. These are either Sarcoscypha dudleyi or Sarcoscypha austriaca and not Sarcoscypha coccinea as most of my field guides had led me to believe.

past Scarlet Elf Whatchamacallit posts:
Mar 15th, 2010
Apr 18th, 2009 –
Note to self:
First found a month earlier this year than last. Last year only a few found, this year they seem to be everywhere. So far only found growing from half buried maple branches, not seen on any other hardwood.













