Tremella mesenterica

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Tremella mesenterica
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Fungi Division: Basidiomycota Subdivision: Agaricomycotina Class: Heterobasidiomycetes Order: Tremellales Family: Tremellaceae Genus: Tremella Species: T. mesenterica
Binomial name
Tremella mesenterica Retz. & Fr.

Tremella mesenterica (common names include yellow brain fungus, golden jelly fungus and Witch's butter) is a jelly fungus that is commonly found on rotting wood, especially gorse, as a parasite of crust fungi of the genus Peniophora^[1]. It is not considered edible, though it can be cooked in soups, or used as a substitute for Jelly Ear fungus.

Its close relative, snow fungus, T. fuciformis, is commonly used in Chinese cuisine, and witch's butter is also used as a tough substitute for snow fungus.

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