Fan-shaped Jelly Fungus
(Dacrymyces spathularia)
Conservation • Description • Habitat • Ecology • Distribution • Taxonomy
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Description |
Fan-shaped Jelly Fungus is a widespread but not common edible fungus. It occurs in southern Africa, southern and eastern Asia, Australia, and North and South America. In the United States it occurs east of the Great Plains and in the Pacific Northwest. It grows on dead, well-rotted wood from which the bark has been removed (decorticated). It appears in groups or clusters, often in dense rows in a crack in the wood. It obtains its nutrients from decaying plant matter (saprobic). The fruiting body is fan-shaped or spatula-shaped, ⅜″ to 1″ (10 to 25 mm) tall, 3⁄16″ to ⅜″ (5 to 10 mm) wide. It has a rubbery to gelatinous texture and it can be yellowish-orange to orange or reddish-orange to orange. There is a cylindrical, stalk-like base but the stalk cannot be differentiated from the rest of the structure. The flesh is edible but too small, insubstantial, and bland to bother with. The spore print is yellow. |
Similar Species |
Habitat and Hosts |
Dead, debarked wood |
Ecology |
Season |
July through October |
Distribution |
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Sources Biodiversity occurrence data published by: Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas (accessed through the Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Portal, bellatlas.umn.edu, 7/23/2025). |
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| 7/23/2025 | ||
Occurrence |
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Widespread but not common |
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Taxonomy |
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Phylum |
Basidiomycota (club fungi) |
Kingdom |
Fungi (fungi) |
Subkingdom |
Dikarya |
Phylum |
Basidiomycota (club fungi) |
Subphylum |
Agaricomycotina (jelly fungi, yeasts, and mushrooms) |
Class |
Dacrymycetes |
Order |
Dacrymycetales |
Family |
Dacrymycetaceae |
Genus |
Dacrymyces |
This fungus was originally described as Merulius spathularia in 1822. It was moved to the newly created genus Dacryopinax in 1948 based on the spatula-like shape of the fruiting body. A later taxonomic analysis of the family Dacrymycetaceae (McNabb, RF, 1965) showed that it is not closely related to the type species of that genus. A recent study (Alvarenga GL and Gibertoni TB, 2021) proposed moving three species, including Dacryopinax spathularia, to the genus Dacrymyces based on DNA analyses. |
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Subordinate Taxa |
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Synonyms |
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Cantharellus spathularia Cantharellus spathularius Dacryopinax spathularia Dacryopinax spathularia ssp. agariciformis Dacryopinax spathularia ssp. spathularia Guepinia agariciformis Guepinia spathularia Guepiniopsis spathularia Masseeola spathulata Merulius spathularius |
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Common Names |
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Fan-shaped Jelly Fungus |
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Glossary
Saprobic
A term often used for saprotrophic fungi. Referring to fungi that obtain their nutrients from decayed organic matter.
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SusanMSmith |
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Deck fungus On our ground deck in back yard. |
Wendy Cain |
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growing on old cut wood originating from the property |
MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos |
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Slideshows |
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Other Videos |
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acryopinax spathularia jelly fungus (Fungi - Dacrymycetaceae) |
About
May 22, 2015 Dacryopinax spathularia - syn.Guepinia spathularia - jelly fungus - Fungo Geléia (Fungi - Basidiomycota - Dacrymycetes - Dacrymycetales - Dacrymycetaceae) Fungo alaranjado, Biodiversidade, Biodiversity, Nature videos, Vídeos de Natureza, Santo Amaro da Imperatriz, Santa Catarina, Brasil Synonyms: Merulius spathularius, Guepinia spathularia, Cantharellus spathularius, Guepiniopsis spathularia Agradecimentos pela ajuda na Taxonomia para Taynah França original videos filmings, 3D modelings, arts animations created and directed by Diego da Cruz Pereira (DiegoDCvids) |
Dacryopinax Spathularia - Fungi |
About
Sep 15, 2018 Collected 4 of these, all growing, there is a fifth one now aswell. These are an edible jelly fungi and often grow in clusters. You will usually find these on your steps outside, your deck, rotting wood in general, etc. I hope you have enjoyed this! Just a young lad who likes ants! :D |
Dacryopinax spathularia jelly fungus (fungi-Dacrymycetaceae) |
About
Jun 28, 2021 |
Visitor Sightings |
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SusanMSmith |
Location: Coon Rapids, (Anoka County) Mn
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| Wendy Cain 10/7/2023 |
Location: Rolling Prairie, Indiana 46371 growing on old cut wood originating from the property |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings |
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Created 2/5/2012 Last Updated: © MinnesotaSeasons.com. All rights reserved. |