Calocera Cornea

Day 245: Calocera cornea frequently emerges from its substrate following heavy or prolonged rainfall, and we've had plenty of precipitation for the month of June to date, so I was not surprised to find it erupting from a piece of barkless, downed alder recently. It grows on a variety of different hardwoods. A "cousin" species, C. viscosa prefers to keep itself specifically to the wood of conifers, but its tips are forked. Calocera cornea may be quite abundant where it occurs, as was the case on this particular log. Despite its superficial resemblance to the coralloid species, it is in fact a jelly fungus.

Bud Blancher Boogers

Day 103: Several years back, I discovered a rather...um...snotty-looking fungus growing on a dead tree near the Community Building at Longmire. Observing it through the seasons, I noticed changes in its structure which eventually allowed me to identify it as Exidia candida, but my original designation was simply too appropriate to let slide, and the "Booger Tree" established itself in my lexicon. A couple of years ago, the Booger Tree sloughed its bark and the boogers disappeared. They have since re-established themselves, if not perhaps in their original abundance, but at least they've reappeared. That said, this image shows an entirely different nose-oyster. I found these along the Bud Blancher Trail in Eatonville, and I'm just thankful no one else was out walking this morning to hear me exult, "Boogers! I found a new Booger Tree!" We must take our little joys wherever we may find them, and the boogers made my day.

Dacrymyces Palmatus

Day 44: There are a number of Pacific Northwestern jelly fungi which fall under the unofficial nomenclature of "orange blobs," but Dacrymyces palmatus is likely the largest and showiest of the lot. When it is small, it could be mistaken for Tremella mesenterica. However, examination of the substrate will clear up any confusion. Dacrymyces grows on rotting conifer wood and Tremella appears on hardwoods. The outer skin of this species is leathery and tough, covering a mushy interior. When fresh and young, the lobes of this fungus are plump and translucent. As it dries out, the lobes collapse in on themselves, giving it a much more wrinkled appearance. While not actually poisonous, they have an unpleasant taste.

Tremella Mesenterica

Day 94: While all fungi enjoy moist, cool conditions, the "jellies" are particularly adapted to prosper during the months of winter. Specimens of Tremella mesenterica are easy to spot due to their color, and often form large colonies on rotting wood. Commonly called "Witches' Butter," these orange blobs have leathery exteriors and gelatinous centers. Although some jellies are edible, T. mesenterica is tasteless and undesirable.