Auriculariaceae

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Auriculariaceae
Hirneola auricula-judae (xndr).jpg
Auricularia auricula-judae
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Basidiomycota
Class: Agaricomycetes
Order: Auriculariales
Family: Auriculariaceae
Fr. ex Lindau (1897)
Genera

Adustochaete
Amphistereum
Aporpium
Auricularia
Eichleriella
Elmerina
Exidia
Exidiopsis
Fibulosebacea
Heterochaete
Heterocorticium
Heteroradulum
Hirneolina
Proterochaete
Protodaedalea
Sclerotrema
Tremellochaete

Contents

Synonyms

Aporpiaceae Bondartsev & Bondartseva (1960)
Exidiaceae R.T.Moore (1978)

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 (fruit bodies) 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.

Taxonomy

History

The family was established in 1897 by German mycologist Gustav Lindau to accommodate species of fungi having "gymnocarpous" basidiocarps (with the hymenium exposed) and "auricularioid" basidia (more or less cylindrical basidia with lateral septa). It included not only the genus Auricularia , but also Platygloea , Jola , Saccoblastia , and Stypinella (= Helicobasidium ). In 1922, British mycologist Carleton Rea recognized the family as containing the genera Auricularia, Eocronartium , Helicobasidium, Platygloea, and Stilbum . [1] Both Lindau and Rea placed the family within the Auriculariales, but some subsequent authors placed it within the Tremellales. [2] [3]

A radical revision was undertaken in 1984, when American mycologist Robert Joseph Bandoni used transmission electron microscopy to investigate the ultrastructure of the septal pore apparatus in the Auriculariales. This revealed that species of fungi with "auricularioid" basidia were not necessarily closely related and that Auricularia had more in common with Exidia and its allies (with "tremelloid" basidia), than with other auricularioid fungi. Bandoni therefore limited the Auriculariaceae to the genus Auricularia. [4]

Current status

Molecular research, based on cladistic analysis of DNA sequences, has confirmed that the Auriculariaceae belong within the order Auriculariales, but has also indicated that the family is not distinguishable from the Exidiaceae. [5] A clade containing Auricularia and Exidia species (plus their allies) equates to the Auriculariaceae. [5] [6]

Description

The majority of species within the Auriculariaceae produce gelatinous basidiocarps (fruit bodies) on dead wood. In some these are conspicuous and may be ear-shaped, button-shaped, lobed, or effused. Their hymenophores (spore-bearing surfaces) may be smooth, warted, veined, spiny, or poroid. Some species, however, produce dry, leathery, or web-like fruit bodies resembling those of the corticioid fungi.

Distribution and habitat

All species within the Auriculariaceae are thought to be saprotrophs, most of them wood-rotters typically found on dead attached or fallen wood. As a group, their distribution is cosmopolitan. The Auriculariaceae currently contain some 15 genera. [6]

Economic importance

Several species within the order are edible and two, Auricularia heimuer and Auricularia cornea , are cultivated on a commercial scale, particularly in China and southeast Asia. They are widely exported, in a dried or powdered state, as "black fungus", "cloud ears", or "wood ears". [7]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tremellaceae</span> Family of fungi

The Tremellaceae are a family of fungi in the order Tremellales. The family is cosmopolitan and contains both teleomorphic and anamorphic species, most of the latter being yeasts. All teleomorphs in the Tremellaceae are parasites of other fungi, though the yeast states are widespread and not restricted to hosts. Basidiocarps, when produced, are gelatinous.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Auriculariales</span> Order of fungi

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tremellales</span> Order of fungi

The Tremellales are an order of fungi in the class Tremellomycetes. The order contains both teleomorphic and anamorphic species, most of the latter being yeasts. All teleomorphic species in the Tremellales are parasites of other fungi, though the yeast states are widespread and not restricted to hosts. Basidiocarps, when produced, are gelatinous.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hyaloriaceae</span> Family of fungi

The Hyaloriaceae are a family of fungi in the order Auriculariales. Species within the family have gelatinous basidiocarps that produce spores on septate basidia and, as such, were formerly referred to the "heterobasidiomycetes" or "jelly fungi". All appear to be saprotrophic, growing on dead wood or plant remains. Less than 30 species are currently included within the Hyaloriaceae, but the family has not been extensively researched.

<i>Auricularia</i> Genus of fungi

Auricularia is a genus of fungi in the family Auriculariaceae. Basidiocarps are typically gelatinous and ear-shaped, with a slightly downy to conspicuously hirsute upper surface and an under surface that is smooth, wrinkled or veined. All species grow on wood. Several Auricularia species are edible and commercially cultivated on a large scale in China and East Asia.

<i>Exidia</i> Genus of fungi

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.

<i>Exidia recisa</i> Species of fungus

Exidia recisa is a species of fungus in the family Auriculariaceae. In the UK, it has the recommended English name of amber jelly. Basidiocarps are gelatinous, orange-brown, and turbinate (top-shaped). It typically grows on dead attached twigs and branches of willow and is found in Europe and possibly elsewhere, though it has long been confused with the North American Exidia crenata.

<i>Myxarium nucleatum</i> Species of fungus

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.

<i>Auricularia auricula-judae</i> Species of fungus

Auricularia auricula-judae, commonly known as wood ear, jelly ear, or more historically, Jew's ear, is a species of fungus in the order Auriculariales. Basidiocarps are brown, gelatinous, and have a noticeably ear-like shape. They grow on wood, especially elder. The specific epithet is derived from the belief that Judas Iscariot hanged himself from an elder tree.

Colacogloea is a genus of fungi belonging to the class Microbotryomycetes. Most species in the genus are known only from their yeast states. Where known, basidiocarps have auricularioid basidia and occur as parasites on or in the fruit bodies of other fungi.

<i>Auricularia americana</i> Species of fungus

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.

<i>Auricularia angiospermarum</i> Species of fungus

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.

<i>Auricularia mesenterica</i> Species of fungus

Auricularia mesenterica, commonly known as the tripe fungus, is a species of fungus in the family Auriculariaceae. Basidiocarps are gelatinous and typically formed in coalescing tiers on stumps and logs. They are partly pileate, with hirsute, zoned caps, and partly resupinate, with smooth to wrinkled undersurfaces that spread over the wood. Auricularia mesenterica is a saprotroph on dead deciduous trees and shrubs. The species is restricted to Europe and Central Asia.

<i>Myxarium</i> Genus of fungi

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.

<i>Tremellochaete</i> Genus of fungi

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.

Platygloea is a genus of fungi belonging to the class Pucciniomycetes. Basidiocarps of the type species are disc-shaped, gelatinous, and occur on dead wood, probably as a saprotroph. Microscopically, all species of Platygloea sensu lato have auricularioid basidia. Currently the genus contains a heterogeneous mix of auricularioid fungi not yet accommodated in other genera.

Cystobasidium fimetarium is a species of fungus in the order Cystobasidiales. It is a fungal parasite forming small gelatinous basidiocarps on various ascomycetous fungi on dung. Microscopically, it has auricularioid basidia producing basidiospores that germinate by budding off yeast cells. The species is known from Europe and North America.

<i>Exidia repanda</i> Species of fungus

Exidia repanda is a species of fungus in the family Auriculariaceae. In the UK, it has the recommended English name of birch jelly. Basidiocarps are gelatinous, orange-brown, and button-shaped. It typically grows on dead attached twigs and branches of birch and has been recorded from Europe, North America, and Japan.

Exidia umbrinella is a species of fungus in the family Auriculariaceae. Basidiocarps are gelatinous, orange-brown, and turbinate (top-shaped). It grows on dead attached twigs and branches of conifers in Europe.

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.

References

  1. Rea C. (1922). British Basidiomycetaceae. A handbook of the larger British fungi. Cambridge University Press.
  2. Martin GW. (1945). "The classification of the Tremellales". Mycologia. 37 (5): 527–542. doi:10.2307/3754690. JSTOR   3754690.
  3. Lowy B. (1971). Flora Neotropica 6: Tremellales. New York: Hafner. ISBN   0-89327-220-5.
  4. Bandoni RJ. (1984). "The Tremellales and Auriculariales: an alternative classification". Transactions of the Mycological Society of Japan. 25: 489–530.
  5. 1 2 Weiss M, Oberwinkler F (2001). "Phylogenetic relationships in Auriculariales and related groups – hypotheses derived from nuclear ribosomal DNA sequences". Mycological Research. 105: 403–415. doi:10.1017/S095375620100363X.
  6. 1 2 Hyde KD, et al. (2020). "Fungal diversity notes 1151–1276: taxonomic and phylogenetic contributions on genera and species of fungal taxa". Fungal Diversity. 100: 5–277. doi: 10.1007/s13225-020-00439-5 . hdl: 2437/291202 .
  7. Cloud ears & wood ears http://chinesefood.about.com/library/blchineseing3.htm Archived 2005-09-19 at the Wayback Machine