Pseudohydnum gelatinosum (Scop.: Fr.) Karst.

Common name: None.

Description: The fruiting bodies are generally up to 5 cm in diameter but occasional specimens can be larger. The surface colour is variable and can be white, pale tan or deep brown. The surface of the cap is smooth and moist but not slimy and the texture is soft and gelatinous. The cap undersurface is covered in white or greyish, conical spines which are about 34 mm long.

The spores measure 47 µm in diameter and are subglobose, smooth and colourless but white in mass.

Substratum: Usually gregarious (clustered in a close group) on very rotten logs in sheltered locations in the rainforest.

Distribution: Found in forests from Queensland to Tasmania.

Notes: This species is sometimes called Tremellodon gelatinosum. Pseudohydnum gelatinosum resembles the fungi which belong to family Hydnaceae which also have spines under their caps but are quite firm in texture. The most easily recognised member of the Hydnaceae in Australia is Hydnum aff. repandum. The gelatinous texture of Pseudohydnum gelatinosum immediately separates it from Hydnum.