The Jelly Tooth or Jelly Tongue, Pseudohydnum gelationosum, at Hemsted Forest

 

What a great day with Kent Field Club at Hemsted Forest.

I have borrowed Phil Ambler's photos for this post, as mine were rubbish - I hope he doesn't mind! Notice the "flesh colour" (seen once it matures) and the very rubbery nature of the cap.

The Jelly Tongue is shaped a bit like a  bracket and belongs to the Exidiacea. The description of this family from the Collins' photographic guide follows:

"members of the family Exidiaceae are gelatinous or jelly fungi in varied irregular shapes and rather dull colours. They are generally associated with dead wood, both standing and fallen. Some are host specific. Like most jelly fungi, they are generally only conspicuous in wet weather and when dry, shrivel to a hard thin membrane. They rehydrate rapidly, revive and swell to resume growth and spore production. Accordingly they can be found at any time of year. The spore colour is white.!