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Witch's Butter (Naematelia aurantia)

Witch's butter (Naematelia aurantia, formerly Tremella aurantia) is a common jelly fungus which parasitizes the false turkey tail (Stereum hirsutum) in west coast woodlands. Also known as golden ear, these oddly-shaped, bright yellow growths swell up after rainfall and are hard to miss.


Witch's butter (Naematelia aurantia). Focus-stacked composite. Mount Tamalpais State Park, Marin County, California, USA.
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Witch's butter (above/right) and false turkey tail (below/left) on the same fallen oak tree. Mount Tamalpais State Park, Marin County, California, USA.
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Witch's butter (Naematelia aurantia), older specimens. Desiccated fruiting bodies of the host fungus, false turkey tail (Stereum hirsutum), are also visible on the same fallen tree. Stebbins Cold Canyon Reserve, Solano County, California, USA.
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Next Mushroom: Common bird's nest fungus (Crucibulum laeve)



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All images copyright Timothy Boomer. All rights reserved worldwide.