Exidia saccharina

Exidia saccharina, commonly known as the pine jelly, is an orange-brown jelly fungus that grows saprotrophically on dead conifers. It is found most commonly throughout northern Europe.

Taxonomy
The species was first described in 1805 as Tremella spiculosa var. Saccharina by German scientists Johannes Baptista von Albertini and Lewis David de Schweinitz. The species was re-described by Albertini and Schweinitz as Exidia saccharina in 1822. Exidia saccharina is most closely related to E. thuretiana and Exidiopsis spp., as determined by genetic analysis.

Description
The basidiocarp of E. saccharina is orange-brown with a gelatinous, highly ridged texture. The basidiocarp becomes leathery, dark, and shriveled when dry. Its translucent hyphae are 0.5–2.5 μm in diameter, monomitic, branched, thin-walled, and form clamp connections. Hyphae frequently form anastomoses. Basidia are typically 13–15.5 μm long, elliptical in shape, and consist of four longitudinally septate cells. Basidiospores are approximately 11.7 μm long with a curved, fabiform shape and thin, smooth walls.

Distribution and habitat
Exidia saccharina can be found most commonly in Scandinavia, but also can be found in northern parts of Asia and North America, and rarely in Africa and South America.

Exidia saccharina can be found in coniferous or mixed forests where it grows only on dead conifers. It grows saprotrophically on species of Abies, Larix, Picea and most commonly, Pinus. It seems to grow most preferentially on Pinus strobus.

Conservation status
Exidia saccharina is currently listed on the register of protected and endangered fungi of Poland.