Dacryopinax spathularia

Dacryopinax spathularia
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Fungi
Division:	Basidiomycota
Class:	Dacrymycetes
Family:	Dacrymycetaceae
Genus:	Dacryopinax
Species:	D. spathularia
Binomial name
Dacryopinax spathularia (Schwein.) G.W.Martin (1948)
Synonyms[1]
Merulius spathularius Schwein. (1822) Guepinia spathularia (Schwein.) Fr. (1828) Cantharellus spathularius (Schwein.) Schwein. (1832) Guepiniopsis spathularia (Schwein.) Pat. (1900)

Dacryopinax spathularia (syn. Guepinia spathularia) is an edible jelly fungus. It is orange in color. In Chinese culture, it is called guihua er (桂花耳; literally "sweet osmanthus ear," referring to its similarity in appearance to that flower). It is sometimes included in a vegetarian dish called Buddha's delight.

The basionym of this species is Merulius spathularius.

Description

The fruit bodies of Dacryopinax spathularia are spatula-shaped, usually 1–1.5 cm (0.4–0.6 in) tall and between 0.5–3 mm wide. The color is orange when fresh, but it darkens to orangish-red when dry. The spore deposit is white. Its spores are ellipsoid, smooth-surfaced, hyaline (translucent), and measure 7–10 by 3–4 μm. It has forked, four-spored basidia that are 25–35 by 3–5 μm.^[2]

Habitat and distribution

A saprobic species, D. spathularia grows on rotting wood; it has even been reported to grow on polyester rugs.^[3] It is widely distributed in Asia, and also known from Hawaii, Europe, and South America.^[3]

Edibility

Dacryopinax spathularia is edible.^[4]

References

1. ^ "Dacryopinax spathularia (Schwein.) G.W. Martin 1948". MycoBank. International Mycological Association. 
2. ^ Zhishu B, Zheng G, Taihui L. (1993). The Macrofungus Flora of China's Guangdong Province (Chinese University Press). New York: Columbia University Press. p. 52. ISBN 962-201-556-5. http://books.google.com/books?id=0cAered-vqYC&pg=PA52. 
3. ^ ^{a b} Hemmes DE, Desjardin D. (2002). Mushrooms of Hawai'i: An Identification Guide. Berkeley, California: Ten Speed Press. p. 79. ISBN 1-58008-339-0. http://books.google.com/books?id=xbEC2PrmZZkC&pg=PA79. 
4. ^ Boa E. (2004). Wild Edible Fungi: A Global Overview Of Their Use And Importance To People (Non-Wood Forest Products). Food & Agriculture Organization of the UN (FA. p. 134. ISBN 92-5-105157-7. http://books.google.com/books?id=Zd2NlcNZgvcC&pg=PA134. 

External links

• Dacryopinax spathularia in Index Fungorum.