Oudemansiella Mucida (increasingly being referred to by the synonym Mucidula mucida), the Porcelain Fungus, is specific to beech wood. It appears in autumn on dead trunks and on fallen branches, and occasionally it also grows on dead branches high up in living trees.
This beautiful fungus is featured on the front cover of the new edition of Fascinated by Fungi.
It has been discovered that Oudemansiella mucida releases a powerful fungicide that deters or even anihilates competitors. Known as a strobilurins, these kinds of anti-fungal agents are used increasingly to protect crops from attacks by powdery mildews and other microfungi.