The fruiting body of Pseudohydnum gelatinosum is tongue-shaped to spoon-shaped with a flexible, rubbery, and somewhat gelatinous texture. The cap is 1-6 cm broad, with a surface that is minutely roughened to almost smooth. The stalk is continuous with the cap, up to 6 cm long, and typically lateral. Both the cap and the stalk are translucent white to watery gray, and may turn dingy brown with age. The underside of the cap is lined with small pale "teeth", which gives this cute fungus the appearance of a pallid cat's tongue. These "teeth" are lined with longitudinally septate basidia, which bear smooth, nearly round basidiospores. The spore print is white.

ECOLOGY

Pseudogydnum gelatinosum is a jelly fungus (Tremellales) that is usually found fruiting on rotting logs, twigs, and humus. In Oregon, it is particularly common during the late fall and winter in dark, damp areas under Douglas-fir. Fruitings may be solitary, scattered, or gregarious. These fungi thrive in cool, wet weather. They wither to almost nothing when dried out, but swell up again when rehydrated. Cat's tongue is edible, but has a flabby texture and bland flavor. However, when dipped in honey, these jelly fungi are rather like gumdrops.

REFERENCES

Arora, David (1986). Mushrooms Demystified, 2nd edition. Berkeley, CA: Ten Speed Press.

OSU Herbarium: Mycology Collection, specimens of Psedohydnum gelatinosum