Tremella mesenterica: The Witch's Butter

Tremella mesenterica: The Witch’s Butter

Radd Icenoggle

December 4, 2023

Mushrooming

Tremella mesenterica, commonly known as Witch’s Butter, is a fascinating member of the fungal order Tremellales. Its unique qualities, intricate biology, and ecological significance make it intriguing.

Tremella mesenterica is recognized for its distinctive appearance, resembling a gelatinous, butter-like mass. The fruiting body of this jelly fungus typically emerges as bright yellow to orange cushion-like structures, found on decaying wood. Its peculiar texture is reflected in its specific epithet, mesenterica, which derives from formed from the Ancient Greek word mesentérion, meaning “middle intestine”. Its coloration contributes to its whimsical common name, Witch’s Butter.

Tremella mesenterica as a basidiomycete fungus, undergoes a complex life cycle involving both sexual and asexual reproduction. The reproductive structures, known as basidia, produce basidiospores that are crucial for the fungus’s dissemination. Tremella mesenterica thrives in cool and moist conditions.

The fungus’s unique appearance is a result of its gelatinous fruiting body, which consists of densely packed hyphae embedded in a gel-like matrix. This type of fruiting body structure protects the reproductive cells and aids in the dispersal of spores.

Tremella mesenterica plays the vital role of a decomposer. It colonizes dead or decaying wood, breaking down complex organic compounds into simpler substances. This process contributes to nutrient cycling and the recycling of organic matter in forest ecosystems.

Moreover, Tremella mesenterica forms symbiotic relationships with certain wood-decaying fungi, such as Heterobasidion annosum. This association benefits both partners, as the Heterobasidion fungus gains access to additional nutrients and a more extensive substrate, while Tremella mesenterica potentially benefits from enhanced growth conditions.

The synapomorphies of the Order Tremellales

Synapomorphies are shared derived characteristics that unite a group of organisms, indicating their common evolutionary ancestry.

Gelatinous Fruiting Bodies:
- One of the key synapomorphies of the Tremellales is the presence of gelatinous or mucilaginous fruiting bodies.
Hyphal Structure:
- In Tremellales, these hyphae are often interwoven and embedded in a gelatinous matrix, creating the distinctive texture observed in their fruiting bodies. Hyphae are the thread-like structures that form the body of the fungus.
Basidiomata with Simple Septate Hyphae:
- The basidiomata, or reproductive structures, have simple septate hyphae. Septate hyphae are divided into distinct cells by septa (cross-walls).
Yeast Phase in Life Cycle:
- Some members of Tremellales exhibit a yeast phase in their life cycle. This yeast phase often involves the presence of budding yeast cells.

Look-alikes within Order Tremellales and in the Order Dacrymycetales

Order Tremellales

Order Dacrymycetales

Tremella mesenterica may also be confused with Dacrymyces chrysospermus, due to their superficial resemblance. However, microscopic examination shows that the Dacrymycetaceae have Y-shaped basidia with two spores, while the longitudinally split basidia are characteristic of Tremella.

Tags :

Mushrooming