Day 153: It is with great delight that I say I have finally identified this darling little orange fungus as Heterotextus alpinus (syn. Guepiniopsis alpina). Commonly called "Poor Man's Gumdrop," "Jelly Cup" or "Alpine Jelly Cone," it's fairly common in the Pacific Northwest and is often confused with other orange jelly fungi. The defining features of the species are its short and stubby stalk-like point of attachment and a top surface which is somewhat concave. The fruiting bodies frequently hang from the sides or bottoms of decaying wood, looking ever so much like the "gumdrops" in their nickname, but don't let the common name mislead you. Although they are purportedly edible, reports from those who have tried them say that although they have the consistency of a slightly soggy jelly-bear, the taste is insipid and only faintly "mushroomy." They fruit in spring and autumn.
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