Fauna
Fungus

Ochre Jelly Club

Leotia lubrica

Also known as Jelly Baby, Common Jelly Baby, Ochre Slime Club

Ochre jelly clubs emerge from wet moss and decaying leaf litter in small clusters, capped with glossy, gelatinous heads that range from warm yellow to olive-ochre. Their slippery, rubbery texture and distinct button-like crowns make them a captivating sight along damp woodland trails in summer and autumn. These fungi act as saprotrophs, quietly breaking down organic matter on the forest floor to cycle vital nutrients back into the ecosystem.

FungusGelatinousWoodland
Ochre Jelly Club reference1 / 7
(c) Alan Rockefeller, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
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Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyDecaying Leaf Litter, Organic Matter, Rotting Wood
Predators
  • Slugs
  • Snails
  • Fungus Gnats
ThreatsHabitat loss, soil compaction
HabitatsDamp broadleaf and coniferous forests, moss beds, rotting wood
Life spanEphemeral (fruiting bodies last 1–3 weeks)
Classification
  1. OrderLeotiales
  2. FamilyLeotiaceae
  3. GenusLeotia
  4. SpeciesLeotia lubrica
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskHigh
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is high
May contain toxins and many wild fungi have dangerous look-alikes; never eat wild fungi based on app identification alone.
Why it is dangerous
May contain trace amounts of toxic monomethylhydrazine, causing gastrointestinal distress if ingested.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Look for shiny, gelatinous yellow-ochre caps with lobed margins on slimy yellow stems.
What to do
Observe and photograph in place without consuming or heavily disturbing the fruiting body.
Responsible observation
  • Field Observation: Search damp mossy woods and leaf litter after heavy late-summer rains.
  • Spore Examination: Inspect the smooth lower surface of the cap, which lacks gills or pores.
Related species
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