### Identification Commonly known as the Amber Jelly, *Exidia recisa* looks like a scattering of translucent, cherry-colored gemstones tossed onto a dead branch. These fungi are typically 1–3 cm wide, shaped like tiny, distorted ears or inverted cones. Unlike its cousin, the Black Witch’s Butter (*Exidia glandulosa*), which is darker and covered in tiny "pimples," *E. recisa* is smooth and attaches to its host at a single, narrow point (pedicellate). When hydrated, its color ranges from a warm cinnamon to a deep, mahogany brown; when held to the light, it glows with a beautiful, stained-glass clarity.
### Habitat & Range This species is a specialist of the willow family (*Salix*), though it occasionally frequents alders or poplars. It is widespread across the temperate Northern Hemisphere, from the damp river valleys of North America to the boggy woodlands of Europe. Look for it on dead, bark-covered twigs that are still attached to the tree or have recently fallen into the leaf litter.
### Behaviour The Amber Jelly is a biological "shape-shifter." During dry spells, it shrivels into an inconspicuous, brittle black crust that looks like a smear of tar. However, within hours of a rainstorm, it absorbs water like a sponge, "resurrecting" into its plump, gelatinous form. It is most active from late autumn through early spring, thriving in the cold, wet window when most other fungi are dormant.
### Diet As a saprotroph, *E. recisa* is one of the forest's quiet recyclers. It doesn't hunt or move; instead, it secretes powerful enzymes that break down the complex lignin and cellulose within dead wood. By "eating" the fallen branches of its host, it returns vital nutrients to the forest floor.
### Fascinating Fact The Amber Jelly is a winter survivor. While most mushrooms are turned to mush by a hard frost, *Exidia recisa* can freeze solid and thaw out repeatedly without losing its structural integrity, providing a rare, high-moisture snack for winter-active slugs and snails when other food sources are buried under snow!