Birch Jelly
Exidia repanda
Exidia repanda is a species of fungus in the family Auriculariaceae. In the UK, it has the recommended English name of birch jelly.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exidia_repanda
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Fungi
Phylum
Basidiomycota
Class
Agaricomycetes
Order
Auriculariales
Family
Auriculariaceae
Genus
Exidia
Birch Jelly belongs to the family Auriculariaceae, order Auriculariales, within the Agaricomycetes class.
Species Profile
Exidia repanda is a species of fungus in the family Auriculariaceae. In the UK, it has the recommended English name of birch jelly. Basidiocarps are gelatinous, orange-brown, and button-shaped. It typically grows on dead attached twigs and branches of birch and has been recorded from Europe, North America, and Japan.
Birch Jelly faces significant threats from habitat loss due to deforestation and the decline of mature deciduous forests, particularly those containing its host birch trees. Climate change and forest fragmentation further compound these pressures by altering moisture conditions essential for this fungal species' survival and reproduction.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Birch Jelly occurs on dead and dying branches of birch trees (Betula species) in deciduous and mixed forests, particularly favoring moist woodland environments. This saprophytic fungus requires specific humidity conditions and is typically found in mature forest ecosystems with abundant decaying birch wood.
Threats
Decline of mature birch forests
Deforestation and habitat destruction
Air pollution impacts on host trees
Climate change affecting moisture regimes
Forest fragmentation
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Birch Jelly (Exidia repanda). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/birch-jelly