Fauna
Fungus

Apricot Jelly

Guepinia helvelloides

Also known as Salmon Salad, Apricot Jelly Mushroom, Candied Jelly Fungus

Apricot jelly produces vibrant, spoon-shaped or ear-like gelatinous fruit bodies that emerge from needle litter or mossy ground over buried rotting wood. Its rubbery, translucent flesh displays subtle hues ranging from pale salmon to deep reddish-apricot, often appearing in small clusters along shaded mountain trails. Functioning as a specialized wood-decay saprotroph, the mycelium plays an important ecological role in recycling nutrients across temperate conifer ecosystems.

Jelly FungusForest FloorWood-Decayer
Apricot Jelly reference1 / 7
(c) Philippe Chabbert, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyRotting conifer wood, Cellulose, Lignin
Predators
  • Forest slugs
  • Fungus gnats
  • Small rodents
ThreatsClear-cutting, soil compaction, loss of mature conifer stands
HabitatsMontane coniferous and mixed forests, mossy limestone soils
Life spanFruit bodies persist 1–3 weeks; mycelium lives多年 (perennial)
Classification
  1. OrderAuriculariales
  2. FamilyGuepiniaceae
  3. GenusGuepinia
  4. SpeciesGuepinia helvelloides
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Many edible mushrooms have toxic look-alikes; never eat wild fungi based on app identification alone.
Responsible observation
  • Search Substrate: Check mossy limestone terrain and paths under fir or spruce where wood lies buried.
  • Observe Weather: Look during rainy spells in late summer and autumn when gelatinous bodies swell with moisture.
  • Gentle Inspection: Admire the soft, rubbery structure in place without uprooting the delicate base.
Related species
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