The Auriculariales are an order of fungi in the class Agaricomycetes. Species within the order were formerly referred to the "heterobasidiomycetes" or "jelly fungi", since many have gelatinous basidiocarps that produce spores on septate basidia. Around 200 species are known worldwide, placed in six or more families, though the status of these families is currently uncertain. All species in the Auriculariales are believed to be saprotrophic, most growing on dead wood. Fruit bodies of several Auricularia species are cultivated for food on a commercial scale, especially in China.
The Auriculariaceae are a family of fungi in the order Auriculariales. Species within the family were formerly referred to the "heterobasidiomycetes" or "jelly fungi", since many have gelatinous basidiocarps that produce spores on septate basidia. Around 100 species are known worldwide. All are believed to be saprotrophic, most growing on dead wood. Fruit bodies of several Auricularia species are cultivated for food on a commercial scale, especially in China.
Exidia is a genus of fungi in the family Auriculariaceae. The species are saprotrophic, occurring in attached or recently fallen dead wood, and produce gelatinous basidiocarps. The fruit bodies are diverse, pustular, lobed, button-shaped or cup-shaped. Several species, including the type species Exidia glandulosa, have sterile pegs or pimples on their spore-bearing surface. The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution and around 20 species are currently recognized worldwide. Initial molecular research indicates the genus is artificial.
Corticium is a genus of fungi in the family Corticiaceae. Basidiocarps are effused, corticioid, smooth, and grow on dead wood. One species, C. silviae, is lichenicolous. The genus was formerly used in a very wide sense for almost any effused corticioid fungi.
Pseudohydnum is a genus of fungi in the order Auriculariales. Basidiocarps are typically bracket-like and gelatinous, with or without a stipe, with a hydnoid (toothed) undersurface. The genus is widely distributed in both the northern and southern hemisphere, with thirteen species currently described and others awaiting description.
Eichleriella is a genus of fungi in the order Auriculariales. Species produce effused or cupulate, waxy to leathery basidiocarps on wood, with a smooth to spiny surface. The genus currently contains more than 15 species.
Heterochaete is a genus of fungi in the order Auriculariales. Species produce effused, gelatinous, waxy, or leathery basidiocarps on wood, partly or wholly covered in small sterile spines or pegs. The presence of these sterile spines distinguishes the genus from Exidiopsis, species of which are microscopically similar but have smooth basidiocarps.
The Ceratobasidiaceae are a family of fungi in the order Cantharellales. All species within the family have basidiocarps that are thin and effused. They have sometimes been included within the corticioid fungi or alternatively within the "heterobasidiomycetes". Species are saprotrophic, but some are also facultative plant pathogens or are associated with orchid mycorrhiza. Genera of economic importance include Ceratobasidium and Rhizoctonia, both of which contain plant pathogenic species causing diseases of commercial crops and turf grass.
Heteroradulum is a genus of fungi in the order Auriculariales. Species produce effused, leathery basidiocarps on wood, often pinkish red and partly or wholly covered in small sterile spines. The genus was originally published in 1917 by American mycologist Curtis Gates Lloyd under the facetious pseudonym "McGinty", rendering the name invalid. It was validated a century later to accommodate a group of species formerly placed in the genera Eichleriella or Heterochaete, but not closely related to either.
Protomerulius is a genus of fungi in the order Auriculariales. Basidiocarps are formed on dead wood and have an effused, smooth, spiny, or poroid hymenium. The genus is cosmopolitan.
Auricularia americana is a species of fungus in the family Auriculariaceae. Basidiocarps (fruitbodies} are gelatinous, ear-like, and grow on dead conifer wood. The species was formerly confused with Auricularia auricula-judae, which grows on broadleaf wood and is confined to Europe.
Auricularia angiospermarum is a species of fungus in the family Auriculariaceae. Basidiocarps (fruitbodies) are gelatinous, ear-like, and grow on dead wood of broadleaf trees. It is a North American species and was formerly confused with Auricularia auricula-judae which is confined to Europe.
Myxarium is a genus of fungi in the family Hyaloriaceae. Basidiocarps are gelatinous and effused or pustular. The genus is cosmopolitan. All species grow on dead wood or dead herbaceous stems.
Adustochaete is a genus of fungi in the family Auriculariaceae. Species produce effused basidiocarps on wood, typically covered in small sterile spines or pegs. The genus was created as a result of molecular research, based on cladistic analysis of DNA sequences, to accommodate two species from Brazil and Mexico that are not closely related to the older and superficially similar genus Heterochaete. Two additional species, from Brazil and China, have since been described.
Tremellochaete is a genus of fungi in the family Auriculariaceae. Species produce pustular or lobed, effused, gelatinous basidiocarps on wood, typically covered in small sterile spines or pegs.
Amphistereum is a genus of fungi in the family Auriculariaceae. Species produce cupulate to effused, leathery basidiocarps on wood. Microscopically, fruit bodies have a dimitic hyphal system. The genus is currently only known from North and South America.
Proterochaete is a genus of fungi in the family Auriculariaceae. The type and only species, Proterochaete adusta, produces thin, effused, corticioid basidiocarps with a smooth or spiny surface on wood. The species was originally described from North America and is also known from northern Europe and Asia.
Sclerotrema is a genus of fungi in the family Auriculariaceae. The type and only species, Sclerotrema griseobrunnea, produces effused, corticioid basidiocarps on wood with a smooth surface. The species was originally described from Russia and is also known from Canada.
Heterocorticium is a genus of fungi in the family Auriculariaceae. Basidiocarps are corticioid (effused), with a smooth surface, and occur on bamboo or wood. Two species have been described, both from China.
Crystallodon is a genus of fungi in the order Auriculariales. The type and only species, Crystallodon subgelatinosum, forms effused, gelatinous, basidiocarps covered with small, sterile spines on fallen wood. The species was formerly placed in Heterochaete, but molecular research, based on cladistic analysis of DNA sequences, indicates that Crystallodon is distinct. The species was originally described from Panama and has also been recorded from Brazil.
