fungus (Tulasnella aurantiaca) - Species Profile
Conservation • Description • Habitat • Ecology • Distribution • Taxonomy
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List
not listed
NatureServe
not listed
Minnesota
not listed
Description
Tulasnella aurantiaca is a common, patch-forming fungus found in Europe and North America. In the United States and southern Canada, it occurs primarily east of the Great Plains. It grows on the dead wood of both conifers, including Thuja, and hardwoods, including Populus, and Vaccinium. The fruiting body gains nutrients from dead organic matter (saprobe).
Tulasnella aurantiaca has a direct association with orchids. All orchid seeds require a fungus to germinate, and most if not all orchids have a symbiotic relationship with a fungus on their tiny rootlets to obtain nutrients from the soil. This role is frequently filled by fungi in the genera Tulasnella and Rhizoctonia. In this life cycle, Tulasnella aurantiaca is mycorrhizal.
The fruiting body often appears as a small, blistered, cushion-like patch (sporodochium) up to 2″ (5 cm) long or longer. Less frequently, it appears solitary (conidiophore) and is less than ⅜″ (1 cm) in diameter. It is gelatinous or firm and rubbery (cartilaginous) when fresh, becoming waxy when dry. The color is variable, ranging from light orange, deep orange, orangish red, and deep red.
Similar Species
Habitat and Hosts
Dead wood of conifers, including Thuja, and hardwoods, including Populus, and Vaccinium
Ecology
Season
Distribution
Sources
Tulasnella aurantiaca (Bonord.) J.Mack & Seifert in GBIF Secretariat (2023). GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Checklist dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/39omei accessed via GBIF.org. Accessed 2/16/2026.
Mycology Collections Portal (MyCoPortal) https://www.mycoportal.org/portal/collections/index.php). Accessed 2/16/2026.
Occurrence
Common
Taxonomy
Kingdom
Fungi (Fungi)
Subkingdom
Dikarya
Phylum
Basidiomycota (Basidiomycete Fungi)
Subphylum
Agaricomycotina (Higher Basidiomycetes)
Class
Agaricomycetes (Mushrooms, Bracket Fungi, Puffballs, and Allies)
Order
Cantharellales
Family
Tulasnellaceae
Genus
Tulasnella
This species was formerly named Hormomyces aurantiacus, and was believed to be a life stage of the jelly fungus Witches’ Butter (Tremella mesenterica). That placed it in the order Tremellales. Modern molecular analysis showed it to be more closely related to chanterelles, some coral fungi, and some toothed fungi. A recent DNA study of the genus Hormomyces (Mack et al., 2021) moved the species to the genus Tulasnella in the order Cantharellales, with the new name Tulasnella aurantiaca.
Subordinate Taxa
Synonyms
Hormomyces aurantiacus
Hormisciopsis gelatinosa
Hypsilophora callorioides
Hypsilophora fragiformis
Common Names
No common name
