Cannibal fungus that resembles Jell-O pops up in Smoky Mountains. It expands in rain

An “exciting find” that resembles glistening lemon Jell-O has been discovered bubbling from dead limbs in the Great Smoky Mountains, the National Park Service says.

That’s not the creepy part, however.

What’s disconcerting is that this delicious looking fungus — also known as Witch’s Butter — changes color and grows in the rain, like a 1950s science fiction monster.

“Tremella aurantia is a species of jelly fungus,” the National Park Service explained in a Facebook post Monday. “This fungus dries out and rehydrates based on rainfall, so it can appear in differing shades of orange and varying sizes.”

So be careful where you put up a tent in the park — or where you sit.

The growth goes by a series of odd names like Yellow Brain Fungus and Golden Ear, due to folds that look a lot like ear lobes. Experts call the folds the “fruitbody,” and it can get up to 6 inches across, according to ResearchGate.net.

The park’s post is an alert of a sort. The fungus begins showing itself primarily in the winter on fallen limbs and the dead parts of standing trees, according to FirstNature.com.

It’s not considered harmful to humans, but it is a type of cannibal in the fungi world.

“This jelly mass isn’t feeding on the branch (in the photo), but is parasitizing another fungus, Stereum hirsutum,” the National Park Service said. “Though probably not a particularly tasty filling for your doughnut, this sure is an exciting find in the Smokies!”

This story was originally published March 3, 2020 at 7:59 AM with the headline "Cannibal fungus that resembles Jell-O pops up in Smoky Mountains. It expands in rain."