Dacrymyces chrysospermus

Dacrymyces chrysospermus is a species of jelly fungus in the family Dacrymycetaceae. In the UK it has the recommended English name of orange jelly spot; in North America it is known as orange jelly or orange witch's butter.

Description
The species is saprotrophic and grows on dead coniferous wood. The basidiocarps are gelatinous, bright orange, and extremely variable in shape, but typically stoutly stipitate with a spoon- or cup-shaped, spore-bearing head. They are frequently erumpent in groups, often coalescing to form complex masses up to 6 cm across. Microscopically it is distinguished from most other species of Dacrymyces by its comparatively large (18–23 by 6.5–8 μm), 7-septate basidiospores.

Similar species
Tremella mesenterica and Naematelia aurantia are macroscopically identical to D. chrysospermus but can easily be separated by their growth on hardwood as well as their microscopic characteristics. While looking so similar, they belong to a different class of fungi, Tremellomycetes.

Dacryopinax spathularia and species of Femsjonia can also be similar.

Distribution
Dacrymyces chrysospermus was originally described from New England, but is said to have a worldwide distribution.