Black Witches' Butter

Exidia

Black Witches' Butter is a squishy black fungus that grows on trees. It looks like a blob of jelly!

Habitat: On trees

Appearance

The Black Witches' Butter is a shiny, dark brown to jet-black, gelatinous fungus that looks like wavy, brain-like blobs or folds on dead wood. When wet, it is soft and slippery; when dry, it shrivels into a hard, brittle crust.

KingdomFungiPhylumBasidiomycotaClassTremellomycetesOrderTremellalesFamilyExidiaceaeGenusExidia

Black Witches' Butter

Interesting facts

It can dry up like a piece of burned paper, then swell back to life with rain!

It's named for its dark, gooey look, like a witch's mysterious potion!

It's not actually butter, but a jelly fungus that feels rubbery or slimy!

This fungus often grows on oak and other hardwood branches that have fallen.

Special abilities

Black Witches' Butter can break down dead wood, helping to recycle nutrients back into the forest soil.

Black Witches' Butter has the ability to rehydrate after completely drying out, which helps them survive long dry spells.

Measurements & details

Height: 1-5 cm
Edibility: edible
Growth Substrate: wood
Season: Fall, winter, spring
Spore Color: White

Ecological connections

depends on

European Oak

Quercus robur

decomposes dead branches and bark

depends on

European Beech

Fagus sylvatica

breaks down fallen logs and branches

depends on

Sugar Maple

Acer saccharum

feeds on dead maple wood

Traits

Deciduous

Discover the magic of plants that shed all their leaves during a particular season, often putting on a spectacular show of fall colors first. They get ready for a fresh start!

Shade Tolerant

Discover plants that love to live in the shadows, growing beautifully and happily even in spots where the sun doesn't shine all day long.

Spore Producing

Discover how some plants and fungi create tiny little "seeds" called spores to help them grow new life! These tiny particles drift in the air, spreading new generations far and wide.