Mucidula mucida

(Schrad.) Pat.

Adorning a fallen beech stem in the New Forest, Hampshire.
Archetypal maturing caps on fallen beech in the New Forest, Hampshire
A single cap with a browned appearance on beech in the New Forest, Hampshire
Indicating the presence of aerial deadwood on beech at Burnham Beeches, Buckinghamshire
Pseudosclerotial plates produced by the mycelium on beech at Burnham Beeches, Buckinghamshire

Adorning a fallen beech stem in the New Forest, Hampshire.
Archetypal maturing caps on fallen beech in the New Forest, Hampshire
A single cap with a browned appearance on beech in the New Forest, Hampshire
Indicating the presence of aerial deadwood on beech at Burnham Beeches, Buckinghamshire
Pseudosclerotial plates produced by the mycelium on beech at Burnham Beeches, Buckinghamshire
Mature porcelain caps on beech in the New Forest, UK.
Mature brownish caps on beech in the New Forest, UK.
Mature brownish caps side-on on beech in the New Forest, UK.
Developing caps showing the stem ring beneath on beech in the New Forest, UK.
A trio of caps on beech in the New Forest, UK.

Common name

Porcelain fungus

Often found on

Beech.

Sometimes found on

Other broadleaved species (very rarely).

Location

Found on dysfunctional or dead parts of the tree – including on aerial deadwood and emerging from stem wounds. Abundant on fallen beech, in many instances.

Description

Annual cap. Emerging often in groups. A porcelain white with a varnished finish maturing to a soft beige-brown. Slippery to the touch, when wet. Brownish stem has a distinct ring. Unmistakable. Pseudosclerotic plates are a cinnamon orange colour.

Confused with

None.

Significance

Indicative of aerial deadwood or localised decay, when found on living trees. If fruiting from stem cavities, climbing investigations may be required, if there is a target beneath. Reports of this fungus being pathogenic from the Czech Republic exist though it is uncertain whether the attribute is accurately given – the term may have been used interchangeably with fungi that simply occur on living trees.