Jelly rot fungus Gloeoporus ambiguus ...

The image features a close-up view of two flat clusters of tan-colored spores growing from a brown, decaying piece of wood. The spore clusters are circular and roughly the size of a quarter dollar coin (2.5 cm or 1 inch). They have a wavy, frilly appearance with numerous tiny folds in their surface.

The fungal spores appear to be growing on top of a fallen pine branch that is brown, decaying, and covered with white lichen. The wood appears to be rotting from the outside in. The image was taken at Richards Loop Trail in Sam Houston National Forest, Texas, on January 27, 2024.

This species of fungus causes softening or rotting of the wood it infects, which is referred to as "jelly rot" due to its appearance. This genus of fungi is found throughout the world and can be identified by their wavy spore clusters with numerous folds in their surface. The spores are generally tan-colored and grow on top of decaying tree branches.

**Classification:**

* Kingdom: Fungi
* Phylum: Ascomycota or Basidiomycota, depending on species
* Class: Leotiomycetes or Agaricomycetes, depending on species
* Order: Helotiales or Russulales, depending on species
* Family: Pyronemataceae, Sarcosphaeriaceae, Pezizaceae, or other families, depending on species
* Genus: Gloeoporus (Meruliopsis ambigua)
* Species: Gloeoporus ambiguus (or Meruliopsis ambigua). – AI vision