dried apricots on juniper

Following eargerly awaited Spring rains this week our Juniperus
oxycedrus have grown little clusters of jelly-like growths on their
branches. I noticed the same last year at about the same time and
weather conditions. The growths are rubbery, under an inch long, orange
in colour, and cluster around the stem on last year's growth - up to
twenty per cluster. From a distance the trees look as if they have been
rather delicately decked out with slivers of dried apricots. The growths
quickly shrivel up and vanish after a couple of sunny days. 

What is this? A fruiting fungus comes to mind but it is like no fungus
I've ever seen. I should also point out that the growths appear on
apparently healthy trees and towards the tips of the branches, not the
base. Very un-fungus like!

Can anyone on the list help me solve this mistery? Sorry if my
description is not very good - I wish I had access to a digital camera.

Damian Martin
Talavera, central Spain
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