Calocera viscosa

Description

Calocera viscosa is a type of jelly fungus that belongs to the Dacrymycetales group of fungi. These fungi are known for their unique basidia, which resemble a "tuning fork." It has bright orange or yellow branches that form gelatinous and slimy basidiocarps. The mushroom can also develop without much branching and cristate tips.

It is widespread throughout Europe, North America, and Asia. The vibrant color makes it easily noticeable in its environment. Typically, it grows on decaying conifer wood, such as stumps and roots. However, it may not be easily visible if the wood is covered by fallen leaves. While it can fruit throughout the year, it is most commonly observed in autumn.

Although Calocera viscosa is not toxic, its tough and gelatinous texture, as well as its bland taste and odor, make it unappealing as a food source. However, its striking color has led to occasional use as a decorative garnish.

Common names: Yellow Stagshorn, Staghorn Jelly Fungus, Jelly Antler Fungus, Yellow Antler Fungus, Yellow Tuning Fork.

Mushroom Identification

1. Fruiting Body

   Bright orange or orange-yellow, up to 3.94 inches (10 cm) tall, greasy and viscid, with antler-like branches often forked near the tips. In dry weather, the color can become orange-red.

2. Spores

   Ellipsoidal to sausage-shaped, 8-12 x 3.5-5µm; hyaline; inamyloid; sometimes becoming septate when fully mature (developing a single dividing wall); each spore containing two oil droplets.

3. Spore Print

   White.

4. Flesh

   Tough and gelatinous; orange.

5. Habitat

   Saprobic means that it obtains nutrients from decaying organic matter. The fungus grows in groups and clusters on deadwood covered in moss, typically from conifer trees. It is commonly found on buried wood and appears to be growing on the ground. It can be seen during summer and fall, and in warmer climates, it can also persist over winter.

Look-Alikes

C. viscosa might be mistaken for certain coral fungi species from the Ramaria genus. However, the key distinguishing characteristic of Calocera viscosa is its noticeably greasy and sticky surface.

Calocera viscosa can be distinguished from the similar Calocera cornea in several ways. Firstly, Calocera viscosa is larger in size. Secondly, their growth habits and substrates differ. Calocera cornea grows in a gregarious manner, but not in clusters, directly from visible deadwood of hardwood trees, usually on sticks or small logs. On the other hand, Calocera viscosa grows differently. Furthermore, the fruiting bodies of Calocera cornea are smaller and yellower, turning reddish brown when dried for preservation in the herbarium. In contrast, the fruiting bodies of Calocera viscosa maintain their orange to yellow color even when dried.

History

In 1794, Christiaan Hendrik Persoon introduced the species known as Yellow Stagshorn and assigned it the scientific name Clavaria viscosa. Later, in 1827, Elias Magnus Fries, a renowned Swedish mycologist who established the genus Calocera in 1821, renamed this species as Calocera viscosa, a name that has been widely accepted ever since.

The genus name Calocera is derived from the prefix "Calo-," meaning beautiful, combined with the Greek word "-cera," which signifies 'like wax.' Hence, Calocera translates to 'beautiful and waxy.' Undoubtedly, Calocera viscosa, being the representative species of its genus, rightfully deserves such a commendation. True to its name, the specific epithet viscosa simply denotes a sticky, greasy, or viscous nature. When wet, the Yellow Stagshorn indeed possesses a sticky surface.

Synonyms and Varieties

• Clavaria brachyorhiza Scopoli (1770), Annus 4, historico-naturalis 4, p. 150, tab. 1, fig. 10 ('brachyorrhiza')

• Clavaria flammea Schaeffer (1774), Fungorum qui in Bavaria et Palatinatu circa Ratisbonam, 4, p. 118, tab. 174

• Clavaria cornuta Schaeffer (1774), Fungorum qui in Bavaria et Palatinatu circa Ratisbonam, 4, p. 121, tab. 289

• Ramaria gelatinosa Holmskjold (1790), Beata ruris otia fungis danicis, 1, p. 81

• Clavaria aurea Ehrhart (1792) [1785-95], Plantae cryptogamae linneae, exsiccavit, 28, n° 279

• Clavaria viscosa Persoon (1794), in Römer, Neues magazin für die botanik, 1, p. 117 Sanctionnement : Fries (1821)

• Merisma viscosum (Persoon) Sprengel (1827), Systema vegetabilium, Edn 16, 4(1), p. 496

• Calocera flammea (Schaeffer) Wallroth (1833), Flora cryptogamica germaniae, 2, p. 535

• Calocera stricta var. b epiphylla Fries (1838) [1836-38], Epicrisis systematis mycologici, p. 581

• Calocera stricta Fries (1838) [1836-38], Epicrisis systematis mycologici, p. 581

• Calocera viscosa var. dilatata P. Karsten (1882), Meddelanden af societas pro fauna et flora fennica, 9, p. 71

• Calocera viscosa var. flammea (Schaeffer) Saccardo (1888), Sylloge fungorum omnium hucusque cognitorum, 6, p. 733

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