Minnesota Seasons - White Jelly Fungus

Conservation • Description • Habitat • Ecology • Distribution • Taxonomy


Conservation Status
IUCN Red List	not listed
NatureServe	not listed
Minnesota	not listed

Description

White Jelly Fungus is a widespread but uncommon jelly fungus.

It obtains its nutrients from decaying organic matter (saprobic). It is usually found in dense clusters on decaying wood of hardwood trees from which the bark has been removed.

Individual fruiting bodies stemless, gelatinous, and more or less fan-shaped when uncrowded. When clustered, the fruiting bodies fuse together and resemble exposed brain. In moist conditions fruiting clusters are white to yellowish, ⅜″ to 4″ wide, and up to ¾″ in height. As they age they sometimes become yellowish, brownish, or pinkish to purplish. In dry weather they shrink, becoming hard and almost transparent, and are easily overlooked.

Similar Species

Habitat and Hosts

Decaying wood

Ecology

Season

July through October


Distribution
		Sources 4, 7, 24, 26, 29, 30, 77.
6/9/2024

Occurrence


Taxonomy
Kingdom	Fungi (fungi)
Subkingdom	Dikarya
Phylum	Basidiomycota (club fungi)
Subphylum	Agaricomycotina (jelly fungi, yeasts, and mushrooms)
Class	Agaricomycetes (mushrooms, bracket fungi, puffballs, and allies)
Subclass	Agaricomycetidae
Order	Auriculariales
Family	Exidiaceae
Genus	Ductifera

Subordinate Taxa


Synonyms
Exidia alba Exidiopsis alba Gloeotromera alba Sebacina pululahuana

Common Names
Pale Jelly Roll White Brain Fungus White Jelly Fungus White Witch’s Butter

Glossary

Saprobic

A term often used for saprotrophic fungi. Referring to fungi that obtain their nutrients from decayed organic matter.


Visitor Photos

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Shelby R


Kandace R


Honey Fae (Farah)


Ashley Petry

Hi! I believe I found white jelly fungus on a trail of the Schlitz Audubon Nature Center this morning.


Gretchen


Ryan

I believe that this is a White Jelly Fungus?


Kirk Nelson


Ted X

Jelly brain in Poconos PA


MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos

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Visitor Videos

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Other Videos

White Jelly Fungus
foxtrapper1972

About

Published on Jun 11, 2013

Early June Pennsylvania Fungus

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Visitor Sightings

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Shelby R 6/7/2024	Location: Brackett Field Park, Minneapolis


Kandace R 7/31/2023	Location: Joliet, IL


Honey Fae (Farah) August 2022	Location: Anoka County


Steve Hettig 7/14/2022	Location: 343 360th St. Morton, MN

Ashley Petry
6/21/2021

Location: Schlitz Audubon Nature Center, Bayside, Wisconsin

Hi! I believe I found white jelly fungus on a trail of the Schlitz Audubon Nature Center this morning.


Gretchen 6/29/2020	Location: Woodbury MN

Ryan
8/28/2019

Location: Ottertail County

I believe that this is a White Jelly Fungus?

Mark Wegne
6/2/2018

Location: Woods near Lilydale Boat Ramp

second year I've seen growning on trees in state of decay where bark has peeled away. After rainy days soaking log followed by hot (80+) humid days. White for a week, then brown for a few days, then dried and gone.