Guepinia

Guepinia

Apparently Secure  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Basidiomycota
Class: Agaricomycetes
Order: Auriculariales
Family: Exidiaceae
Genus: Guepinia
Fr.
Species:
G. helvelloides
Binomial name
Guepinia helvelloides
(DC.) Fr.
Synonyms

Guepinia rufa (Jacq.) Beck
Gyrocephalus helvelloides (DC.) Keissl.
Gyrocephalus rufus (Jacq.) Bref.
Phlogiotis helvelloides (DC.) G.W. Martin
Phlogiotis rufa (Jacq.) Quél.
Tremella helvelloides DC.
Tremella rufa Jacq.
Tremiscus helvelloides (DC.) Donk

Guepinia is a genus of fungus in the Auriculariales order. It is a monotypic genus, containing the single species Guepinia helvelloides, commonly known as the apricot jelly. The fungus produces salmon-pink, ear-shaped, gelatinous fruit bodies that grow solitarily or in small tufted groups on soil, usually associated with buried rotting wood. The fruit bodies are up to 10 cm (4 in) tall and up to 17 cm (6+34 in) wide; the stalks are not well-differentiated from the cap. It has a white spore deposit, and the oblong to ellipsoid spores measure 9–11 by 5–6 micrometers.

The fungus is widely distributed in the Northern Hemisphere, and has also been collected from South America. Although rubbery the flesh is edible, and may be eaten raw with salads, pickled, or candied.