This fungus is a nusiance species, and it has been found growing on red cedar despite previous treatments of the wood. Red cedar is used in construction of roofs and siding for homes, and this species can create a pesky issue for homeowners. Other species in the genusGuepiniopsishave also been found to exhibit the same wood growing characteristic. As the structure of the mushroom itself is so small, it is not likely that this species has been ingested for nutrition, although it is believed to be non- poisonous. Since this fungus has little known properties and uses to humans, it has the ability to become a future research topic for many mycologists and ethnomycologists.
Guepiniopsis alpinais saprotrophic, obtaining its energy from the decaying wood that it lives on, although it can also be found on live conifers in a commensal relationship. This species tends to be found in clusters on stumps and logs. The fruiting body (the visible part of the fungi), tends to reproduce in the early spring, after the last snowfall has melted for the season. Geographically, the Jelly can be found throughout North America, namely in Washington, Utah, Idaho, and Colorado, as it becomes more common as altitude increases. Guepiniopsis alpinahas also been found in Eurasia, including Norway, Sweden, Austria, and Iran (also at higher elevations).
Guepiniopsis alpinavaries in an orange color that is dependent on the age of the fungus and the climate (wet vs. dry). An immature fruiting body may be bright yellow or orange, turning into a deep orange or red as it matures. This mushroom is small in size, typically less than 5 cm across the cap. The cap is shaped like a cup, with a lateral stalk that attaches to its substrate. The spore print is usually white, cream, or creamy yellow.
The flesh is jelly like, or gelatinous, and the basidiocarp (where spores are made) is similar in shape to a tuning fork, which holds true for all the species in the family Dacrymycetideae. Each basidiocarp holds 4-5 spores that are cylindrical, or allantoid, in shape. This species can be hard to identify next to a similar looking group, althoiugh subtle differences in spore size can be the distinguishing factor throughout the family.
Guepiniopsis alpina, also known as the Orange Jelly or Alpine Jelly Cone, was discovered in 1901 by Tracy and Earle in Southwestern Colorado. This species belongs to the phylum Basidiomycota, in the family Dacrymycetideae. Morphologically they are hard to miss, as they are bright orange in color and are typically found in clusters along decaying branches or stumps. Their flesh is gelatinous with 4-5 allantoid spores in each fork shaped basiocarp, a distinguishing factor from similar species. This saprotrophic species has been found throughout North America and Europe, and can be seen on various decaying conifers. As this species is so small, measuring less than 5 cm per cap, there has been little research on the edibility.
Guepiniopsis alpina belongs to the phylum Basidiomycota, and the family Dacrymycetideae. The fungus is synonymous withGuepinia alpine,and Heterotextus alipinus. It is commonly known as the Orange Jelly, the Alpine Jelly Cone, and the Poor Man's Gumdrop. This species was first found by Samuel Mills Tracy and Franklin Sumner Earle in 1901. The specimen they originally discovered was found in Southwestern Colorado, growing on a piece ofPiceaEngelmanni, commonly known as the Engelmann Spruce. This species was found along anothe rspecies that is morphologically very similar,Guepiniopsis monticola.
