Crystal Brain Fungus - Exidia nucleata
A translucent to milky-white cushion-shaped jelly fungus with internal opaque white inclusions or nodules.
White Brain (Exidia thuretiana) does not have white inclusions.
white inclusions 
Check for white granules or inclusions in the fruiting body
Photograph in habitat, ensuring your photos show the opaque white inclusions. Note habitat, substrate and associated tree species. The granules can be hard to photograph - it may help to collect a sample and cut it open; they are also more evident in dried specimens.
On decaying wet wood
Seen in late autumn and winter
CAPochin
Botanic Gardens, Leicester
03 November 2023
Melinda Bell
Bardon Hill
13 September 2023
Mark Skevington
Jubilee Walk, Leire
11 November 2012
David Nicholls
Rutland Water
31 December 2011
Melinda Bell
Charley Woods
04 November 2024
Melinda Bell
Worthington,Cloud Wood
23 October 2023
Andy's Rutland
Empingham garden
13 January 2022
Peter Smith
Pioneer Park
25 January 2019
White nodules visible
Leicestershire & Rutland Map
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MAP KEY:
Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020
UK Map
Species profile
- Common names
- Crystal Brain
- Species group:
- fungus
- Kingdom:
- Fungi
- Order:
- Auriculariales
- Family:
- Auriculariaceae
- Records on NatureSpot:
- 79
- First record:
- 14/11/2008 (Calow, Graham)
- Last record:
- 10/03/2026 (Pochin, Christine)
Total records by month
% of records within its species group
10km squares with records
The latest images and records displayed below include those awaiting verification checks so we cannot guarantee that every identification is correct. Once accepted, the record displays a green tick.
In the Latest Records section, click on the header to sort A-Z, and again to sort Z-A. Use the header boxes to filter the list.