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.
Exidia nigricans is a jelly fungus in the family Auriculariaceae. It is a common, wood-rotting species throughout the northern hemisphere, typically growing on dead attached branches of broadleaf trees. It has been much confused with Exidia glandulosa.
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.
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.
Myxarium nucleatum is a species of fungus in the family Hyaloriaceae. In the UK, it has been given the recommended English name of crystal brain. Basidiocarps are watery white, pustular or lobed, and gelatinous with small, white, mineral inclusions visible to the naked eye. It is a common, wood-rotting species in Europe, typically growing on dead attached or fallen branches of broadleaf trees. It is currently not clear whether collections from North America and elsewhere represent the same species.
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.
Basidiodendron is a genus of fungi in the order Auriculariales. Basidiocarps are corticioid, thin, effused and are typically found on fallen wood. The genus is widespread in both temperate and tropical regions and contains over 30 species.
Elmerina is a genus of fungi in the order Auriculariales. Basidiocarps are formed on dead wood and are either bracket-like with a poroid hymenium or densely clavarioid. Species are known from East Asia and Australia.
Protohydnum is a genus of fungi in the order Auriculariales. Protohydnum cartilagineum, the type and only species, occurs in Central and South America and produces effused, cartilaginous basidiocarps on wood, yellow-ochre and wholly covered in small spines. Molecular research, based on cladistic analysis of DNA sequences, has shown that the genus is distinct, but that other species previously referred to Protohydnum belong in the genera Hyalodon or Elmerina.
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.
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.
Protodaedalea is a genus of fungi in the family Auriculariaceae. Species produce bracket-like basidiocarps on wood with a lamellate (gilled) undersurface. The genus currently comprises two species, both known from Asia.
Hyalodon is a genus of fungi in the order Auriculariales. Species occur on dead wood in Europe and Asia, producing effused, gelatininous basidiocarps covered in small spines. Molecular research, based on cladistic analysis of DNA sequences, has shown that the genus is distinct.
Mycostilla is a genus of fungi in the order Auriculariales. The type and only species, Mycostilla vermiformis, forms effused, gelatinous, crystalline or net-like basidiocarps on fallen conifer wood in Europe. The species was formerly placed in Stypella, but the latter genus is of uncertain disposition and appears unrelated to the Auriculariales. Molecular research, based on cladistic analysis of DNA sequences, distinguishes Mycostilla from the morphologically similar genus Stypellopsis.
Stypellopsis is a genus of fungi in the order Auriculariales. Basidiocarps are effused, gelatinous, crystalline or net-like and occur on fallen conifer wood. Species were formerly placed in Stypella or Protomerulius, but molecular research, based on cladistic analysis of DNA sequences, distinguishes Stypellopsis from these genera and from the morphologically similar genus Mycostilla. The type species occurs in northern Europe, Stypellopsis farlowii in North America.
Exidia candida is a species of fungus in the family Auriculariaceae. Basidiocarps are gelatinous, whitish, and cushioned-shaped at first, becoming effused and corrugated. It typically grows on logs and fallen branches of lime and other broadleaved trees. The species occurs in both North America and Europe. A distinctive variety, Exidia candida var. cartilaginea, is bicoloured whitish and ochre to brown, grows preferentially on birch and alder, has a northerly distribution, and occurs in North America, Europe, and the Russian Far East.
Psilochaete is a genus of fungi in the order Auriculariales. The type and only species, Psilochaete multifora, forms effused, gelatinous, basidiocarps that are reticulate (net-like). Molecular research, based on cladistic analysis of DNA sequences, indicates that Psilochaete is distinct from Protomerulius and similar genera. The species was originally described from Norway.
Hirneolina is a genus of fungi in the order Auriculariales. Basidiocarps are effused, waxy, and occur on dead wood. Only the type species, described from Ecuador and reported from Brazil, is currently confirmed as belonging to the genus.
