Guepinia

Guepinia
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Fungi
Division:
Basidiomycota
Class:
Agaricomycetes
Order:
Auriculariales
Family:
incertae sedis or
Exidiaceae[1]
Genus:
Guepinia

Species:
G. helvelloides
Binomial name
Guepinia helvelloides
(DC.) Fr.
Synonyms[2]

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+3⁄4 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.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Cannon2007 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference urlFungorum - Synonymy was invoked but never defined (see the help page).