common names include yellow brain golden fungus yellow butter common fungus family frequently found dead attached recently fallen branches especially parasite wood decay fungi genus gelatinous orange yellow fruit body fungus grow diameter convoluted surface damp grows bark appearing rainy weather days rain thin film mass capable reviving subsequent rain fungus occurs widely deciduous mixed forests widely distributed temperate tropical regions include africa asia australia europe considered bland fungus edible produces attracting research interest biological activities taxonomy phylogeny species originally described sweden naturalist later sanctioned second volume type species genus distinctive appearance led species accumulate variety common names including yellow yellow brain golden fungus butter applied specific epithet latin formed ancient greek word middle middle center referring shape species recognized seen form washed colors considered synonym based molecular analysis sequences regions large gene internal regions closely related analysis included estimated species description fruit body irregular shape usually breaks bark dead branches broad high rounded variously brain like appearance fruit body like tough wet hard dry surface usually smooth translucent deep yellow bright yellow orange fading pale yellow rarely white fruit bodies dry dark reddish orange spores viewed mass whitish pale yellow microscopic characteristics basidia spore bearing cells ellipsoid roughly spherical shape rarely typically wide contain divide compartments frequently diagonal vertical reproduction carried formation spores called arise specialized cells distinct hyphae densely branched normally abundant hymenium young specimens entirely roughly spherical ellipsoid numerous young fruit bodies covered bright yellow spores broadly ellipsoid average tube like identical form produced edibility claimed fungus merely non poisonous sources agree edible gelatinous consistency texture china fungus prepare cooling soup lotus seed lily etc similar species frequently confused widespread species parasitic plant fungus recognized presence host typically grows logs stumps species similarly colored surface usually shiny thicker fruit bodies contain thick walled host hyphae consequently retain shape dried collapsing film smaller basidia smaller differently shaped spores measuring known areas japan north american species similar confused members family like superficial resemblance microscopic examination shows shaped basidia spores unlike split basidia characteristic additionally smaller whitish attachment point substrate grows wood life cycle phase life cycle arises result sexual propagation achieved mating form cells compatible mating types mating type mating sexual target cell having opposite mating type producing cell sexual characterized arrest growth phase cell division cycle subsequent formation elongated mating tube formation mating tube initiated similar process emergence chemical structure found fruit bodies arise located beneath wood bark fruit body originate separately habitat distribution cosmopolitan distribution having recorded europe north central south_america africa asia australia fruit bodies formed wet periods year british_columbia canada found maple pine abundant red prefers grow habitats ranging wet fungus grows wood rotting fungi genus occasionally host fungus found fruiting compounds species produce interest medical field biological activity patents filed china pertaining use compounds cancer prevention immune system reported discovering acidic cells closely resembled produced species structural similarity species suggested phylogenetic relationship subsequently researchers synthesized determined chemical identities component sugar units known produced fruit bodies pure culture conditions shown consist backbone chains regular repeating structure laboratory tests associated number biological activities including protecting radiation anti effects
Tremella mesenterica