Exidia compressed (Exidia recisa)
Systematics:
- Department: Basidiomycota (Basidiomycetes)
- Subdivision: Agaricomycotina (Agaricomycetes)
- Class: Agaricomycetes (Agaricomycetes)
- Subclass: Auriculariomycetidae
- Order: Auriculariales (Auriculariales)
- Family: Exidia (Exidiaceae)
- Genus: Exidia (Exidia)
- Species: Exidia recisa (Exidia compressed)
Synonyms:
- Tremella recisa
- Tremella salicus
Description Fruit bodies up to 2.5 cm in diameter and 1 – 3 mm thick, yellow-brown or reddish-brown, transparent, similar in consistency to soft jelly, at first truncated-conical or triangular in shape, later rather leaf-like, attached to the substrate at one point (sometimes there is something like a short leg), often becomes drooping with age. They grow most often in groups, but individual specimens usually do not merge with each other. The upper surface is smooth, shiny, slightly wrinkled; the bottom surface is smooth, matte; the edge is wavy. The taste and smell are inexpressive.
Ecology and distribution Widespread species in the Northern Hemisphere. Usually it is a late autumn mushroom, but in principle its season extends from April to the end of December (depending on the mild climate). In dry weather, the mushroom dries up, but after rain or strong morning dew it comes to life and continues to spore.
It grows on dead branches of deciduous trees, including dead wood, mainly on willow, but also noted on poplar, alder and bird cherry (as well as other representatives of the genus Prunus).
Edible The mushroom is inedible.
Similar species The widespread exidia glandular (Exidiaglandulosa) has black-brown or black fruit bodies of an irregular, often brain-like shape with small warts on the surface, growing together into dense shapeless groups.
Truncated exidia (Exidia truncata) is very similar in color and quite similar in shape, but it, like glandular exidia, has small warts on its surface. In addition, its lower surface is velvety.
The blooming exidia similar in color (Exidia repanda) has round, flattened fruiting bodies that are never conical and drooping. In addition, it most often grows on birch and never occurs on willow.
The brown leafy shiver (Tremella foliacea) has larger fruiting bodies in the form of curly lobes, which turn black with age.
Exidia umbrinella is similar in shape and color to fruit bodies, but this rather rare species grows only on conifers.
Orange tremor (Tremella mesenterica) is distinguished by its bright yellow or yellow-orange color and folded fruit bodies.
