How to identify Orange Jelly Spot

To correctly identify Orange Jelly Spot (Dacrymyces stillatus), check each of these features in order. Misidentification is the most common cause of mushroom poisoning, so cross-reference multiple sources.

Step-by-step identification

1. 1

   Cap

   Shape, color, surface texture, and diameter.

   Not applicable, as Dacrymyces stillatus does not form a cap in the traditional sense. The entire fruiting body is a gelatinous mass.

2. 2

   Gills

   Attachment to stem, color, and spacing.

   Not applicable, as Dacrymyces stillatus is a jelly fungus and does not produce gills.

3. 3

   Stem

   Length, shape, surface, and any ring.

   Not applicable, as Dacrymyces stillatus does not have a distinct stem; it is sessile or broadly attached to the substrate.

4. 4

   Flesh

   Color, texture, and bruising reaction.

   The flesh is gelatinous, translucent, and uniformly colored like the surface.

5. 5

   Fruiting body

   Overall growth pattern.

   The fruiting bodies are typically 1-5 mm in diameter, hemispherical to cushion-shaped, often becoming somewhat convoluted or brain-like when mature or growing in clusters. They are gelatinous and rubbery, ranging in color from bright orange to yellowish-orange, sometimes fading to pale yellow or whitish with age or desiccation. When dry, they shrink considerably and become hard, resembling a thin, orange crust; they revive and regain their gelatinous texture when rehydrated by rain.

6. 6

   Habitat

   Where it grows and on what substrate.

   Saprobic, growing on dead, decorticated (barkless) or bark-covered wood of both coniferous and deciduous trees. It is particularly common on fallen branches and logs, often appearing in large numbers.

Key Facts

Cap surfaces

Not applicable (entire fruiting body is gelatinous)

Growth Form

Sessile, cushion-shaped to convoluted, often gregarious or confluent

Spore Print

White to pale yellow

Body color

Bright orange to yellowish-orange

Odor

Indistinct

Flesh bruises

Does not bruise

Height

1-5 mm

Cap Diameter

1-5 mm

Fruit body characteristics

• Gill attachment: Not applicable
• Stem shape: Not applicable
• Stem surface: Not applicable
• Ring: Absent
• Stem cross-section: Not applicable

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