Finding Jelly Antler Mushroom (Calocera viscosa) & Icicle Fungus (Mucronella)

While foraging wild mushrooms in my local forest here in the Pacific Northwest, I was thrilled to come across the Jelly Antler, also commonly referred to as the Yellow Staghorn or Yellow Tuning Fork (Calocera viscosa). It is no mystery where it gets its name, and its rubbery consistency, along with waxy, viscid texture and noting it is growing from decaying conifer wood are good indications.

While inspecting these closely, I was shocked to discover a different fruiting body that I had never noticed before - the Icicle Fungus (Genus Mucronella). At first sight, I wondered if these were small Lion's Mane or something closely related to it in the Hericium Genus. These were growing in recesses of a standing Douglas Fir snag and were quite a beautiful sight. There were likely two species observed: Mucronella calva (white) and what is often referred to as Mucronella flava (yellow) but is likely a different species.

If you have any insight on these one, let me know in the comments! Thanks for watching!

#mushroom #wildmushrooms #fungi