Jellies

"This artificial group of fungi, which includes species in the orders Tremellales, Auriculariales, and Dacrymycetales, is characterized by fruiting bodies that are geatinous or jellylike to tough and are found on rotting wood or on the forest floor. The characteristic firm but gelatinous fruiting bodies of the jelly fungi are a result of the formation and accumulation of gelatinous compounds around the threadlike mycelia that interweave, forming the fruiting bodies."^{[MOFMUS Huffman]}

"JELLY fungi differ fundamentally from other Basidiomycetes in the structure of their basidia, which are partitioned (septate) or forked rather than simple and clublike. The rust and smut fungi also have partitioned basidia, but are not considered to be mushrooms. Although the basidia are microscopic, jelly fungi can usually be told in the field by the gelatinous jellylike) or rubbery texture that gives them their name." ^[MushDemyst]

"Auricularia and Tremella are also cultivated on a large scale in China and Taiwan. Production methods are essentially similar to those employed for shiitake." ^[TheFungi2] "Ear mushrooms, including Auricularia and Tremella spp., were found to be medically active in several therapeutic effects. Methanolic extracts prepared from five kinds of ear mushrooms including black, red, jin, snow, and silver ears showed moderate antioxidant activities in the 1,3-diethyl-2-thiobarbituric acid method (38.6-74.6%) at 1.0-5.0 mg/ml (Mau et al., 2001)." ^{[Rai PM]}

"Jelly fungi were previously detected in ericoid mycorrhizae of Calluna vulgaris based on ultrastructure of the hyphal septal pore (Bonfante-Fasolo, 1980). " ^[SoilBio-34]

Auriculariaceae

Auricularia Sp.

• "Very different in appearance to a conventional mushroom, the wood ear is thin, rubbery, ear-shaped, and lacks gills." ^{[EPMW Hall]}
• Species: "Out of about 10 recognized species of Auricularia two main commercially cultivated species are A. auricula and A. polytricha, the former is thin and light coloured while the latter is the thicker, longer, hairy, and darker. A. fuscosuccinea is also produced on a limited scale. Thailand and Taiwan are the main producers of this mushroom." ^{[Arora FBAF]} "t least three very similar Wood Ear taxa occur in the Americas. Auricularia polytricha (Montagne) Saccardo has been reported in Louisiana, but is also common from the Americas through Mexico and south to Argentina. It is brownish and coarsely hairy on its outer surface with the hairs measuring up to 450 x 6 The common northern temperate species of Wood Ear bearing strong resemblance to A. polytricha is Auricularia auricula (Hooker) Underwood which is brownish and finely hairy on its outer surface. The hairs of this latter species is much shorter, measuring 100 x 6 (See Lowy (197 1)).... Another closely related species is Auricularia fuscosuccinea (Montagne) Farlow, the most common Wood Ear in the southeastern United States. This mushroom is rosy to reddish brown and minutely hairy on its outer surface (with hairs measuring 80 x 5 ii). This species is distributed as far south as Argentina." ^{[GGMM Stamets]}
  • Caution: "Not recommended for pregnant or lactating women." ^{[HMH Duke]}
• Food Use: "Most wood ear continues to be marketed today in dried form, equating to about 10–12 percent of fresh weight, with simple rehydration prior to cooking. The mushroom is better known for its soft, crunchy, somewhat cartilaginous texture than for any distinctive flavor. It is often added to vegetable and meat dishes in Chinese cooking." ^{[EPMW Hall]} Fruit bodies of Auricularia Sp. are fried and consumed as a vegetable in Yunnan province. ^{[Geng et al.,2016]}
• Other Use: "...the Chinantec people of the state of Oaxaca use Auricularia as a "small bag" or "small balloon" by separating the membranes and making a small hole [64]; ii)" ^{[Santiago et al.]}
• Medicinal Use: "Long popular in China as a food and for its medicinal properties, it is not surprising that Auricularia is reported to be the first mushroom cultivated by humans.6" ^{[Chang Mush]} "Auricularia species were used since times for treating hemorrhoids and various stomach ailments (Chang and Buswell, 1996)." ^{[Wani et al.,2010]}
• Dosages: "Dosages (Wood Ear) — 15 g herb in tea 2 ×/day (HOB)." ^{[HMH Duke]}
• Storage: "Very conveniently, the fruit bodies can be stored dry for several months, and rehydrated when needed." ^{[IntrotoFun3]}
• Market: Auricularia Spp. sell wholesale for about $5-10/Kg according to a report published in 1999/2000. ^{[EMPW Hall]}

A. polytricha & A. auricula

• "used interchangeably" ^{[MM Hobbs]}
• Description: "This jelly fungus grows mostly on wood (either live or dead), often in broadleaf tree groves or on fir trees. The fruiting body is semi-translucent, brown, cup or ear shaped, and rubbery in texture (except when dry, in which case it turns quite hard)." ^{[MM Hobbs]}
• Medicinal Use: "Both have been used for thousands of years in China (McIlvaine, 1973), frequently to treat hemorrhoids and as a stomach tonic (Ying et al, 1987). Traditionally, there are 5 kinds of mu erh that are used... (Brets-chneider, 1895)." ^{[MM Hobbs]}
• Cultivation: "The most common technique used in Asia has been to cut logs 3 feet or a meter in length, 5-12 inches in diameter, in the late fall to early spring. The logs are simply drilled with holes and spawn is pack tightly into the cavities. I prefer to inoculate logs with sawdust spawn that is packed into chain-saw cuts a foot apart. The logs are kept moist in a shaded, well ventilated forest. To initiate mushroom formation, the logs are submerged in water for 24 hours." ^{[GGMM Stamets]}
• "Mycelial Characteristics: Longitudinally linear, thickening with age to form a dense cottony white mycelial mat, becoming mottled with brown discolorations in age." ^{[GGMM Stamets]}
• "Yield Potential: 1/4 to 1/2 lb. of mushrooms per 5 lbs. of supplemented sawdust. Logs produce for several years, yielding at best, 20% of their wet mass into fresh mushrooms over 3-5 years." ^{[GGMM Stamets]}

Auricularia auricula (L.:HOOK.) UNDERW.; - Jew's Ear Local

• "Chinese records show that Auricularia auricula-judae (Bull.) Que ´l. (wood ear) was the first mushroom to be cultivated around 600 AD (Miles and Chang 1997) some 1,000 years before the button mushroom was first cultivated in France around 1650 (Spencer 1985; de Tournefort 1707 in Ainsworth 1976)." ^[SoilBio-34]
• Synonyms:
  • Auricularia auricula-judae (Bull.: Fr.) Wettst. ^[E-flora-1]
  • Auricularia auricularis (Gray) G.W. Martin ^[E-flora-1]
• Similar Species: "Other large cups that grow on barked wood are typically more fragile (Ammirati). Peziza badioconfusa and other similarly colored cups are very brittle and grow on the ground, (Lincoff(2))." ^[E-flora-1]
• Range: "Temperate and subtropical. Widespread across Europe, North America, Asia, and Australia." ^{[EMB Conte]} "A. auricula is common throughout the United States." ^{[MM Hobbs]} "limbs and logs with and without bark, slash, on hardwoods and on conifers, associated with a white rot, (Ginns), single, gregarious to clustered, usually on living, damaged, or dead parts of hardwoods, (Breitenbach), scattered or clustered on conifer logs, usually with bark on, often fir, common in the western mountains, in summer, fall, and winter, especially after heavy rains, (Ammirati), "said to fruit in late summer and fall in western U.S., however, in the Rocky Mts. we commonly find it around melting snowbanks", (McKnight), all year (Buczacki)" ^[E-flora-1] "Woods, fringes of woods; grows on wood (extremely rotted wood)—wood that can be shredded with your fingers. Many sources mention elder trees as a preferred habitat. Although available for several months, I find it rarely, and often in unlikely mushroom habitats." ^{[Meuninck EWPUH]} "northern temperate zone, Caribbean... a fungus of dead or moribund trees, almost wholly on elder in Europe (though on a wider range in North America)" ^[MPFT]
• Habitat: "found on dead tree trunks in moist weather in the autumn." ^{[FAP Rogers]} "look Throughout the year." ^{[EMB Conte]} "a weak pathogen, growing on the wood and pith of living branches and on dead wood. A wide range of other hosts has been reported, on which A. auricula-judae causes a rapid white-rot similar to that produced by members of the polyporoid clade..." ^{[IntrotoFun3]} "cultivated on lignocelluloses" ^{[Schmidt WTF]}
• Description:
  • "Summary: Auricularia auricula grows on wood, producing an ear-shaped to inverted cup-shaped fruitbody which is red-brown, cinnamon, yellow-brown, olive-brown, or blackish brown. Flesh is thin rubbery to flabby-gelatinous. The convex upper sterile surface has a dense, silky covering or is minutely hairy." ^[E-flora-1]
  • "Fruiting body: 2-8cm wide and extending up to 4cm from where it is growing, margin smooth and sharp, fruiting body attached with or without stem, flesh gelatinous, tough, elastic, and corneous (horny) and hard when dry, returning to original condition when soaked in water" ^[E-flora-1]
  • "Stretch the mushroom to make certain it is elastic and rubbery."^{Meuninck EWPUH]}
• Hazards: "May cause allergic reactions in susceptible individuals, but this is rare. One case history reports that after consuming 250 g of the fresh fruiting body of A. auricula, a human male experienced “solar dermatitis,” i.e., upon exposure to sunlight he developed flushing on the exposed parts of his body, with significant swelling, blisters, and exudation. He recovered and was discharged ten days later after treatment with pharmaceutical medications (Gu, 1986). Owing to possible anti-fertility effects (He & Chen, 1991), A. auricula should not be taken by pregnant or lactating women and those planning to conceive." ^{[MM Hobbs]}
• Edible Use: "Wash thoroughly, then add to Oriental stir-fries, or simply sautée in butter. Interesting chewy texture and surprisingly good taste that holds up either dried or frozen in cooked dishes. Great in sauces: Cook with wild leeks, thicken with sour cream, and serve over toast." ^{[Meuninck EWPUH]} "Although sometimes considered bland in the West. the Jelly ear is eaten in the Chinese diet, dried or boiled with rice, and is prized for its medicinal value. ^{[EMB Conte]} "Wash thoroughly, then add to Oriental stir-fries, or simply sautée in butter. Interesting chewy texture and surprisingly good taste that holds up either dried or frozen in cooked dishes. Great in sauces..." ^{[Meuninck EWPUH]}
  • "...used as food and recommended for people working in mining, chemical, and textile industries (Li et al. 1996)." ^{[FCTM USDA]}
• Medicinal Use: "In European tradition, A. auricularia was boiled in milk, beer, vinegar, or any other convenient liquid and taken for inflammations of the throat (Rolfe & Rolfe, 1925), as well as applied locally for eye irritations because of its high mucilage content and ability to hold medicated eye water (Cooke, 1862; Dragendorff, 1898).... Linnaeus mentions wood ear in his Materia Medica (1749) as being refrigerant, drying, and astringent, and says that it is used in eye complaints, inflammations, and heart pain (angina)... It is beneficial for lumbago, debility after childbirth, pains, muscle spasms, poor circulation, dysentery with blood, leukorrhea (white vaginal discharge), excess mucus, nausea, slow healing of wounds in the aged, and for mushroom poisoning (Liu and Bau, 1980). In the Barefoot Doctor’s Manual (1977) it is said to strengthen the lungs." ^{[MM Hobbs]} "...A. auricula has been used as a treatment for hemorrhoids." ^{[EPMW Hall]}

  • Effect: "Releasing heat from the blood and ceasing bleeding." ^{[Xinrong TCM]}

  • Uses:
    • Used to treat "Dysentery with bloody stool, blood stranguria, metrorrhagia and metrostaxis, hemorrhoid, etc." ^{[Xinrong TCM]}
    • "...for easing sore throats, coughs and hoarseness when boiled in water to a jelly-like consistency." ^[MPFT]
    • "...Highlands, as a gargle for sore throats,91''' ^[MPFT]
    • "...north-western part of central Ireland, where it has been boiled in milk as a cure for jaundice.92" ^[MPFT]
• Mycochemicals: "Various active polysaccharides such as heteropolysaccharide glucans (Misaki et al, 1981) and acidic heteroglycans have been isolated (Ukai et al,1983)." ^{[MM Hobbs]} Contains Ergosterol, orsellinic acid, 22,23-Dihydroergosterol,
• Nutritional Info: "The nutritional content of 100 g of dry A. auricula is as follows: 10.6 g protein; 0.2 g fat; 65 g carbohydrates; 7.0 g course fiber; 5.8 g ash; 375 mg calcium; 201 mg phosphorous; 185 mg iron; and 0.03 mg carotene (Ying et al, 1987)." ^{[MM Hobbs]} 8.9g/100g crude protein. 2.88 kcal/100g [water content not specified] ^{[Albuquerque IE]}
  • Pharmacology: "A. auricula is used to treat hemorrhoids, as an anticoagulant, to stimulate bowel movements, and to help build energy (Ying et al, 1987)." ^{[MM Hobbs]}
  • Experimental Pharmacology: A. auricula’s polysaccharides have also shown the following effects and activities in studies on mice and rats:
    • Antimutagenic (Zhou et al, 1989b), anti-ulcer (Xue et al, 1987), anticoagulant (Sheng & Chen, 1987), possibly antidiabetic and might have a cytoprotective effect on cells of pancreatic islets in mice (Xue et al, 1989), immunostimulatory, antiradical, antileukocytopenic, and anti-inflammatory (Xia & Chen, 1989), antitumor action on implanted sarcoma 180 (Misaki et al, 1981; Tobata et al, 1981), antiaggregatory activity on blood platelets, which might make it beneficial for coronary heart disease (Agarwal et al, 1982), antibiotic (Brian, 1951). ^{[MM Hobbs]}
    • "...lowered total cholesterol, triglyceride, and lipid levels (Sheng & Chen, 1989);" ^{[MM Hobbs]} "...dietary fiber isolated from Auricularia auricula-judae (Jew’s ear) and Tremella fuciformis (white jelly-leaf) can significantly decrease the serum total cholesterol (TC) and LDL cholesterol levels (Cheung, 1996b)." ^{[Peter C. Cheung]}
    • "...also reported to be anti-aging, by decreasing the lipofuscin content of the heart muscles, increasing SOD activity of the brain and liver (thus clearing free-radicals and possibly reducing tissue damage), and inhibiting monoamine oxidase B (MAO inhibitor) in the brain (Zhou et al, 1989a);" ^{[MM Hobbs]}
    • "...prevention of egg implantation in animals, thus terminating early and mid-pregnancy (He & Chen 1991.);" ^{[MM Hobbs]}
  • TCM: "In TCM, mu erh is considered mild and sweet; it activates the blood, stops pain. It is used to increase physical and mental energy. It is considered specific for bleeding—especially excessive uterine bleeding, and bleeding hemorrhoids, as well as abdominal and tooth pain (Hanssen & Schädler, 1982)." ^{[MM Hobbs]}
  • Preparation & Dosage: "Take 15 g of the dried mushroom in decoction as tea 2X/day. Or mix the powder with honey to make pills and take them twice daily." ^{[MM Hobbs]}
  • Cultivation: "In China, for example, Auricularia auricula production now takes place on a massive scale, using qing gang (Quercus) stems harvested from natural forests".^{[A.B. Cunningham]} 119000 T (5.5% of total mushroom cultivation) were harvested globally in 1986, compared to 485000 T (7.9%) in 1997. ^{[Arora FBAF]} China produced 491000 (MT) in 1998, followed by 968,567 (MT) in 2000. ^{[Chang Mush]}
  • "Extensive cultivation takes place in China, Taiwan, Thailand, and the Philippines, and, because the mushroom can be produced on basically a sawdust substrate of a variety of woods in plastic bag culture, cultivation of Auricularia need not be seriously restricted by geography. Its production in 1997 ranked it as the fourth most important edible mushroom in the world." ^{[Chang Mush]}
    • "Like shiitake (L. edodes), Auricularia are also produced on natural logs as well as on synthetic logs (sawdust medium), the latter is more popular, productive and profitable system. The cultivation of Auricularia on natural logs is popular in the areas where suitable trees are abundant....almost any tree except pines can be used. A log diameter of 3-6 cm and length of 1 m is recommended. The time of season for log felling is... when leaves are just starting to dry in autumn then logs have sufficient sugar and moisture to support mycelial growth. Holes are made, spawned, and sealed like that for Lentinula and incubated (20–288^oC) outdoors in the “laying yard” during which logs are turned upside down once a month. After about 2 months, logs are transferred to the cropping area which may be an open area in a forest or a green house or shed where logs are kept upright and frequently watered; ideal temperature for cropping is 15–25^oC which of course depends upon the strain used. Mushrooms can be harvested about 30 days after exposure to cropping conditions. During the winters, production ceases but logs are kept protected for getting fruiting next spring by resuming heavy watering. The logs should continue to produce mushrooms year after year unless they become heavily contaminated with some wood decaying fungi." ^{[Arora FBAF]}

Auricularia delicata (Fr.) Henn.

"Basidiocarp rubbery gelatinous; solitary or gregarious; ear-shaped with the margin slightly downward reflexed; sessile or rarely substipitate, up to 8 cm wide... This species grows on dead wood or dead branches of trees, and is found all around the island from south to north. Mountain people collect A. polytricha for the purpose of selling, and their collections are always found to be mixed with at least 3% of this species. Because of its strongly porose-reticulated hymenial surface, this species can be distinguished from other species macroscopically without any difficulty." ^{[Chang BCEM]}

"Auricularia cornea (Ehrenb) Ehrenb ex Endl., A. delicata Henn. This is a kind of gelatinous fungi that grow in clusters on dead wood. Use: hanal ‘food’; Prep: chäkbil yetel bu'ul ‘boiled with beans’." ^{[Cook TFLM]} Edible ^{[Tibuhwa,2013]}

Auricularia fuscosuccinea

• Food Use: Eaten in Mexico ^{[Ruan-soto,2006]}

Auricularia mesenterica:

• "Studies on mice have shown that A. mesenterica (Dicks.) Pers. contains polysaccharides that inhibit the growth of both sarcoma 180 and Ehrlich carcinoma (Ying et al, 1987)." ^{[MM Hobbs]}
• Habitat: "...on old stumps and logs of elm (Ulmus) and other trees. It, too, causes active wood decay and may occasionally be weakly pathogenic." ^{[IntrotoFun3]}
• Food Use: Eaten in Mexico ^{[Ruan-soto,2006]}

Auricularia polytricha (MONTAGNE) SACC.

• "In Japan A. polytricha is called kikurage, meaning an edible mushroom (Misaki et al, 1981)" ^{[MM Hobbs]}
• Description: "In Auricularia polytricha the typically convex upper surface may be covered with whitish hairs, while the concave lower surface, from which spores are produced, is purplish brown." ^{[EMPW Hall]}
• Range: "A. polytricha has been reported from Louisiana south to Argentina. Also throughout Asia and Europe. Widespread." ^{[MM Hobbs]} "Auricularia polytricha is a widely distributed tropical and subtropical species..." ^{[Chang Mush]} " Australia ^{[Low WFP]}
• Food Use: "Hairy jew's ear (Auricularia polytricha) is a rubbery, wafer-thin bracket fungus with a pleasant taste." ^{[Low WFP]} In Mexico, "...local consumption of Auricularia polytricha, A. delicata and Pleurotus djamor was present mainly in Tabasco" It was eaten in Teapa and Ludic. The consistency was gristly. ^{[Ruan-soto,2006]}
• Medicinal Use: "An aqueous extract (probably adenosine) obtained from A. polytricha is thought to have the property of reducing atherosclerosis..." ^{[EPMW Hall]}
• Production: "During the year three crops can be obtained. Ten percent of production is sold fresh, the rest is dried very easily by leaving in open air for about 2 days." ^{[Chang BCEM]}
• Retail Info: "In Taiwan the sale unit is not in kilograms but 600 gm. However, for consistency, prices are given by kilograms. In early 1976, the sales price at the retail level for fresh was $0.70/kg; for the dried quality it ranged from $4.20-5/kg (8 kg fresh yields 1 kg dried). Ninety percent of the dried production is exported, mainly to Hong Kong, Japan, and the United States." ^{[Chang BCEM]}

Guepinia helvelloides - Apricot Jelly Mushroom Local

• Habitat: "on rotting wood or on the ground under conifers, (Phillips), "solitary to crowded-cespitose, also in rows or clusters, in damp shady places on path and street sides, as well as under shrubbery and in forests, commonly on old wood-processing places, on the soil, but usually in association with buried rotten wood, prefers limy soils", (Breitenbach), in damp ground on rotting wood, often under Douglas fir, (Ammirati), on conifers: needles and rotten wood, very rotten wood, litter, saprophytic on ground, (Ginns), single or more commonly crowded-cespitose in duff, soil and rotten wood under conifers, late summer and fall, rarely spring, (Castellano)" ^[E-flora-7]
• Range: "The distribution includes BC, OR, WA, ID, and also MB, NS, ON, PQ, CA, MI, NY, (Ginns). It is common in the Pacific Northwest and widely distributed in North America, (Phillips). Distribution includes also Europe, Asia, and Africa, (Breitenbach), Mexico, Puerto Rico, Brazil, and Austria, (Lowy(2)), Guatemala (Lowy(3)), Estonia, Latvia, and Russia, (Raitviir)." ^[E-flora-7]
• Description: Guepinia helvelloides is orange, gelatinous, flabby or rubbery, spatula-shaped to funnel-shaped (usually indented or split at one side), sometimes like a calla lily" ^[E-flora-7]
  • Cap: "fruitbody 2-8(18)cm high, "spatula-shaped to somewhat funnel-shaped, but usually indented or split down one side", flabby or rubbery, with a cap and stem, cap 1-7(10)cm wide, "pale to deep rosy-pink to reddish orange, apricot, or salmon-colored; surface more or less smooth, margin often wavy", (Arora),..." ^[E-flora-7]
  • Flesh: "rubbery to somewhat gelatinous, (Arora), firm-gelatinous (Phillips), elastic, gelatinous, (Breitenbach)" ^[E-flora-7]
• Food Use: "edible (Phillips), can be eaten raw in salads, pickled, or candied, but should not be cooked because of its high water content, (Arora), old specimens are tough and indigestible (McKnight)" ^[E-flora-7]

Exidiaceae

Exidiopsis plumbescens Local

• Synonyms:
  • Sebacina plumbescens Burt ^[E-flora-10]
• Description: "Fruiting body: spreading to form a thin, effused layer or arising as erumpent, hemispherical pustules that become confluent to form a continuous resupinate layer up to several centimeters long, consistency soft to firm waxy-gelatinous..." ^[E-flora-10]
• Habitat: "on decaying hardwood, (Wells), Acer (maple), Alnus (alder), Arctostaphylos manzanita (Manzanita), Betula (birch), Fraxinus (ash), Liriodendron tulipifera (Tuliptree), Lithocarpus densiflora (Tanoak), Populus, Quercus (oak), Salix (willow), Umbellularia californica (California laurel), (Ginns)" ^[E-flora-10]

Leathesia difformis - Sea Cauliflower Local

• Synonyms:
  • Tremella difformis L. ^[E-flora-8]
• "Members of this family are cushion-shaped or globular and rather spongy. They are composed of aggregated filaments that are differentiated into a medulla of large, colorless cells and a cortex of small-celled filaments." ^[E-flora-8]
• Description: "When mature, sea cauliflower forms yellowish-brown, hollow, globular to deeply convoluted thick-walled cushions about the size of grapefruit. If you press a piece of this species between your fingers it disintegrates easily into its constituent filaments (in contrast to the thin, smooth-walled sacs of Colpomenia). When very immature it is easily confused with young studded sea balloons (Saranthera ulvoided)." ^[E-flora-8]
• Habitat: "Sea cauliflower is an annual that grows either on rocks, or, more frequently, as an epiphyte on several other species of algae. It is often abundant, forming a peculiar bumpy carpet in the mid-intertidal zone. We have seen it both on outer exposed coasts and also in protected inland waters.Bathymetry: upper mid-intertidal to low intertidal. ^[E-flora-8]
• Range:
  • Local Distribution: "In British Columbia, this species is found along the coast." ^[E-flora-8]
  • World Distribution: "Bering Sea to Baja California, Mexico; Chile; western North Pacific, North Atlantic; North Sea." ^[E-flora-8]
• Misc: "Sea cauliflower occurs epiphytically on articulated coralline algae in many areas along the coast. When corallines were experimentally removed from rocks exposed to abrasion by sand, the sea cauliflower was not able to colonize the rock directly." ^[E-flora-8]

Protodontia oligacantha Local

• Description:
  • "Fruiting body: broadly effused [spread out], up to 1.3cm by 0.5cm in extent, possibly larger, waxy when moist, the spore-bearing surface drying horny; "benzo brown" to "cinnamon drab", fading to buff or pallid near the margin; margin broad, thin, fimbriate [fringed],..." ^[E-flora-9]
• Habitat: "on dead wood of Populus trichocarpa (Black Cottonwood), July 26-August 11" ^[E-flora-9]

Pseudohydnum

Pseudohydnum gelatinosum - Toothed Jelly Fungus Local

Above Images: Pseudohydnum gelatinosum

• Synonyms:
  • Tremellodon gelatinosum (Scop.) Fr. ^[E-flora-6]
• Description: "has a whitish flabby rubber-like fruitbody that is tongue-shaped to spoon-shaped and has soft teeth on the underside of the expanded upper part." ^[E-flora-6]
• Similar Species: "True toothed fungi are fleshy to brittle, not gelatinous (Lincoff(2))." ^[E-flora-6]
• Habitat: "This species grows on dead stumps and branches of coniferous trees." ^[IntotoFun3] "on wet wood, decaying stumps, logs, litter, of conifers, in the tropics on hardwoods, (Ginns), generally imbricate, densely clustered, more rarely single, on very rotten conifer wood, especially on stumps, (Breitenbach), single, scattered, or gregarious on rotting logs, twigs, and humus under conifers, (Arora), all year (Buczacki)" ^[E-flora-6]
• Food Use: ""It is of slight value as food, but may be eaten raw with sugar and cream, or marinated in french dressing and used in salad", (Ammirati). "...The texture is interesting, the flavor nonexistent."" Edible: yes (Arora) ^[E-flora-6]

Exidia

• "Phylogenetic studies have confirmed the close relationship between Auricularia and Exidia (Weiss & Oberwinkler, 2001)." ^[IntotoFun3]

Exidia glandulosa - Witches' Butter

• Description: "black rubbery fructifications" ^[IntotoFun3]
• Habitat: "...decaying branches of various woody hosts, especially lime (Tilia) and oak (Quercus)". ^[IntotoFun3]

Dacrymyces

"Dacrymyces is a rather common genus of jelly-fungi, forming variously shaped, watery to firm gelatinous fruitbodies throughout the year. While most species are yellow or orange, some can be colorless and others are brown. In texture and appearance they are somewhat like Tremella, although many species of the latter have tougher fruitbodies. It often takes microscopic examination to confirm the genus—two-spored tuning fork basidia in Dacrymyces and four-spored, longitudinally septate basidia in Tremella." ^{[Trudell MPNW]} Dacrymyces are saprotrophs - decay of downed wood and wood associated with dead trees ^{[Esser IA]}

Calocera

"Species of Calocera, one group of the jelly fungi, produce small, 2 - 12mm tall, tough-gelatinous yellow fruiting bodies on wood. These dry to become hard and revive when moistened." ^{[MOFMUS Huffman]}

"At first sight the ubiquitous cylindrical orange outgrowths of C. viscosa from coniferous logs..., or the smaller C. cornea from hardwood logs..., could be mistaken for species of Clavaria. However, the gelatinous texture and the characteristically forked basidia... place them in the Dacrymycetales, and this placement has been confirmed by molecular phylogenetic studies (Weiss & Oberwinkler, 2001)." ^{[IntrotoFun3]}

"Calocera cornea is a wood-inhabiting jelly-fungus. Its growth in large troops on rotting logs and small size set it apart from the other club-fungi.... It occurs throughout much of the world..." ^{[Trudell MPNW]} Edible. ^[WEFGO]

"Calocera viscosa is closely related [to C. cornea], but is brighter in color, coralloid, and occurs on conifer wood" It also "...looks very much like a clavaria or clavulinopsis" ^{[Trudell MPNW]} Edible. ^[WEFGO] Contains carotenoids ^{[Strange Carotenoids]}

Dacrymyces aquaticus Local

• Description: "Summary: Dacrymyces aquaticus is differentiated from other Dacrymyces species by the habitat on wood floating in fresh water or on wood in very wet areas, and by characteristics of the spores and arthroconidia. It is found in BC (Bandoni(6)... Fruiting body: typically less than 0.1cm in diameter, sometimes confluent and reaching 0.3-0.4cm across, about 0.05cm high, orbicular to elliptic, pulvinate [cushion-shaped], flattened slightly, gelatinous in consistency, attached weakly by a point; at first pallid yell" ^[E-flora-3]
• Habitat/Range: "gregarious but usually not crowded, on sodden coniferous wood, wood floating in pond, often on sawn timber, common on the undersurface of floating wood, but more often at or near the waterline on partially exposed wood, (Bandoni)" ^[E-flora-3]

Dacrymyces capitatus Local

• Synonym:
  • Arrhytidia involuta (Schwein.) Coker ^[E-flora-4]
  • Dacrymyces involutus Schwein. ^[E-flora-4]
  • Dacrymyces stipitatus (Bourdot & Galzin) Neuhoff ^[E-flora-4]
  • Dacryomitra nuda (Berk. & Broome) Pat. ^[E-flora-4]
• Habitat / Range: "dead wood with and without bark, branches, conifers and hardwoods, causes a uniform brown rot or a brown pocket rot, (Ginns), gregarious on dead wood of hardwoods, more rarely conifers, (Breitenbach for Europe), all year (Buczacki)" ^[E-flora-4]
• Description: "Summary: Dacrymyces capitatus produces tiny, soft, gelatinous, cartilaginous, cushion-shaped to top-shaped or plate-shaped fruiting bodies that are pale yellow to somewhat translucent, have a short stem with a rooting base, and grow on hardwood or rarely conifers. According to McNabb (1973) it is recognized by its more or less stipitate [stemmed] habit, its typically convoluted cap at maturity,... Fruiting body: 0.05-1cm, low pulvinate [cushion-shaped] to plate-shaped; pale yellow, in part somewhat translucent, cartilaginous, gelatinous, soft; smooth, sometimes white-pruinose; short substantial stem somewhat rooting, gradually merging into upper part,..." ^[E-flora-4]
• Similar Species: "Dacrymyces stillatus lacks a substantial stem and has larger, more thick-walled spores, (Breitenbach). Ditiola radicata has a stem delimited from the cap, (Reid)." ^[E-flora-4]

Above: Dacrymyces palmatus

Dacrymyces palmatus - Orange jelly (Syn; Dacrymyces chrysospermus) ^[E-flora-2] Local

• Description: "Like weird little globs of bright orange-yellow jelly, the orange jelly mushroom appears to ooze from cracks and hollows in old conifer wood logs and stumps. You’ll see it frequently in this region....it grows from spring all the way into early winter..." ^{[FGWMP Russell]} "Summary: Dacrymyces chrysospermus is characterized by large, typically bright orange fruiting bodies that dry orange red to orange brown, distinctly 7-septate spores, and lack of clamp connections. (McNabb).... Fruiting body: forming masses up to 6cm in extent, variable in shape, pulvinate [cushion-shaped], fan-shaped, or stoutly stemmed with spathulate, cup-shaped, convoluted, or plate-shaped cap, often coalescing to form erect, brain-shaped or complicated stemless or stoutly". ^[E-flora-2]
• "Dacrymyces palmatus (perhaps better called D. chrysospermus) often begins as a small disc or cushion, sessile or with a small stipe, and eventually expands and becomes irregular to lobed. The fruitbody is bright yellow to orange and has a rather tough consistency. The outer surface often has loosely arranged whitish hairs. Dacrymyces palmatus occurs on conifer wood. Tremella mesenterica is similar in appearance and texture, but grows on hardwoods and often is associated with the wood-rotting fungus Stereum hirsutum." ^{[Trudell MPNW]}
• Habitat/Range: "saprophytic on stumps; logs, brush; stub; causes a uniform brown rot or a brown pocket rot, (Ginns), conifer and hardwood, (McNabb)" ^[E-flora-2]
• Similar Species: "Many mushroomers mistake it for the similar looking witch’s butter mushroom, Tremella mesenterica. Witch’s butter, however, grows on old hardwood, not conifer wood; is more yellow in color; and is not as common as orange jelly in this region..." ^{[FGWMP Russell]} "Tremella mesenterica lacks white basal attachment and grows on deciduous wood, besides being different microscopically, (Lincoff). Dacrymyces stillatus is smaller, simpler in form, and different microscopically. Dacrymyces chrysocomus is smaller, yellow, and cushion-shaped to cup-shaped. Dacrymyces capitatus is smaller, yellow, usually grows on hardwoods, and differs microscopically." ^[E-flora-2]
• Food Use: "Edible, raw or cooked." ^{[FGWMP Russell]} "Advice about edibility differs: not edible (Phillips), edible, but should be boiled or steamed not sauteed, (Lincoff)." ^[E-flora-2]

Dacrymyces stillatus - Orange Jelly

• Description: "Fruit body...yellow-orange-red, also whitish, dark orange when dry, button-shaped, lenticular to mug- or plate-like, 1–15 mm wide, gelatinouselastic, slimy melting when old, solitary and in groups, often two different forms on the same place, a brighter form with basidiospores and a darker form with arthrospores, often appearing through paint;" ^{[Schmidt WTF]}
• Significance: "white rot, softwoods and hardwoods, wood darkens, decay commonly patchy with small pockets of rot, often restricted to interior of timber, on window and doorframes, common outdoors on windows, claddings and along the gable board of the roof (Alfredsen et al. 2005)." ^{[Schmidt WTF]}

Dacryopinax spathularia Local

• Edible ^[WEFGO] Used as food by Jakun and Bateq of Peninsular Malaysia. ^[Lee,2009]

Tremella

"The genus Tremella belongs to the order of the Tremellales, and the family of the Tremellaceae, part of the heterobasidiomycetous fungi. Primarily on the basis of observations, the species are thought to be mycoparasites that occur on ascomycetes and basidiomycetes, especially those colonizing recently killed woody twigs, and on lichens (Boekhout et al. 1998). Tremellales and Filobasidiales are the only known taxa with yeast phases." ^[Baets2001]

Uses

"Tremella fuciformis has both medicinal and culinary uses. The polysaccharides and steroids it contains reportedly have antitumor and anti-inflammatory properties and also serve as a general tonic. The white jelly fungus can be included in desserts and added to soups and other dishes. Though it has little flavor, the smooth gelatinous texture of this mushroom is appealing to the Asian palate. Other species of Tremella, such as the golden ear (T. aurantia), are also cultivated in China and used in traditional medicines." ^{[EPMW Hall]}

Tremella mesenterica and T. fuciformis; "It has a long historical use in traditional Chinese medicine as an immune tonic and for treating debility and exhaustion together with many other ailments including skin-care. It contains acidic polysaccharides...readily extracted with hot water giving a smooth and stable solution used in Oriental cuisine.... Clinical trials have shown it to be effective in treating radio- and chemo-therapy-induced leukopenia, boosting immunological functions and stimulating leukocyte activity (Hu and But, 1987).^{[Smith 2002 MM]}

Veterinary Aid: "Tremella spp., jelly fungus. Purge for cattle (Skye323)." ^[MPFT]

Pharamacology

• Polysaccharides: "In China, several patents have been filed on ‘Tremella polysaccharide’ used for cancer prevention and stimulation of the immune system (Shen et al. 1993, Wuyong 1998)." ^[Baets2001]
  • "an acidic glucuronoxylomannan from the fruiting bodies of Tremella aurantia Schwein. (123) exhibited hypoglycemic effects in several test systems and ameliorated the symptoms of diabetes." ^{[Lindequist, 2005]}
  • "There seems to be some antitumor properties attributable to the stimulation of the immune system by these polysaccharides. Tremella species also seem to possess antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, and antiallergic activities, lowers cholesterol, and protects the liver. Tremella glucuronoxylomannan may also improve immunodeficiency, including that induced by AIDS, stress, or aging. And it may help maintain better blood flow to vital organs with aging." ^{[HealingMushrooms]}

Phytochemistry

"...tremellastin from Tremella mesenterica. (Retzius)" is commercially obtained as a medicinal mushroom product. ^{[Lindequist, 2005]} Tremellastin - Immunomodulator - from T. fuciformis and T. mesenterica. ^{[Lindequist, 2005]}

"Three heteroglycans, T1a, T1b, and T1c, have been isolated from the body of Tremella fuciformis. They have been shown to induce human white blood cells to produce interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF), a significant immunostimulating potential. Most of these effects come from long-term consumption of the fungus." ^{[HealingMushrooms]}

"The sugar profiles of extracellular polysaccharides, which were derivatised to alditol acetates and identified by GC, from different Tremella species showed that all of the polysaccharides contained essentially the same sugars but in different ratios [225]." ^{[Varela MP]}

Species

"Adventurous mushroomers who experiment with strange and otherworldly-looking mushrooms don’t seem to have problems when they confuse these very similar-looking species. All are edible, apparently. Orange jelly, however, can challenge the best cook. Like many other jelly mushrooms, they are flavorless, gummy, and watery. Sautéing reduces them to pasty goo." ^{[FGWMP Russell]}

Species In Australia: "Jelly fungi (Tremella) are another group found on wood in damp forests. They are usually yellow, orange, white or brown, with a sloppy gelatinous structure and no obvious shape, though some kinds resemble tiny antlers or stalactites. Not much is known about them but they appear to be harmless, having a pleasant jelly taste." ^{[Low WFP]} "The brilliant yellow jelly fungi Tremella mesenterica Fr., Calocera guepinioides Berk., and Heterotextus pezizitormis (Berk.) Lloyd, are prominent on wet well-rotted fallen branches and logs throughout the forest." ^{[Werger TJF]}

Tremella aurantica Local

"Other species of Tremella, such as the golden ear (T. aurantia), are also cultivated in China and used in traditional medicines." ^{[EPMW Hall]}

• Habitat/Range: "Tremella aurantia is mainly found on angiosperm wood and is widely distributed in Canada (Bandoni & Boekhout 1998)." ^[Baets2001]
• Pharmacology:
  • "An acidic polysaccharide of 1500 kDa and composed of mannose, xylose, glucuronic acid, and glucose has been isolated from the hot-water extract of the fruiting bodies of Tremella aurantia. It shows pronounced hypoglycemic activity in normal mice, streptozotozin-induced mice, and genetically diabetic mice and no harmful effects have been reported (Kiho et al. 1995)." ^{[Arora HFB]} "Acidic polysaccharides isolated from the fruiting bodies of A. auricula-judae (Yuan et al., 1998a, b), Tremella aurantia (Kiho et al., 1995, 2002), and T. fuciformis (Kiho et al., 1994b) have also been studied for their antidiabetic effects." ^{[Peter C. Cheung]} "...the anti-diabetic activity of this polysaccharide (TAP) which appeared to be higher than that of the Tremella fuciformis polysaccharide (Kiho et al. 1995, 1996). ^[Baets2001]
• Phytochemicals: "Other minor sugar residues found in the three types of sclerotial DF include mannose, galactose, rhamnose, and uronic acids, which may indicate the presence of small amounts of mannan, galactan, and polyuronides. The three sclerotia may possess glucuronic acids, as the presence of glucuronic acids in other edible fungi such as Tremella aurantia and Tremella fuciformis has also been reported (Gao et al., 1996; Kiho et al., 2000)." ^{[Peter C. Cheung]}

Tremella foliacea - brown witch's butter Local

• Habitat/Range: "on hardwoods and conifers: dead twigs and branches, log, stump, uprooted stump, (Ginns), single, on dead wood of hardwoods, more rarely conifers, on standing and fallen trunks and branches, still with bark, (Breitenbach for Europe), usually appears late in the season, (Lincoff), on wood of dead trees, especially stumps of oaks, (McKnight), all year (Buczacki)" ^[E-flora-5]
• Similar Species: "Tremella encephala is somewhat similar but smaller and flesh-colored to brownish (Arora). Auricularia auricula is cup-like or ear-like (never that shape in Tremella foliacea) and more gelatinous." ^[E-flora-5]
• Description:
  • "Summary: Tremella foliacea produces a large brownish convoluted mass of wavy or leaf-like, brown, gelatinous folds. It is thought to be parasitic on Stereum, (Arora)." ^[E-flora-5]
  • "Fruiting body: 2.5-20cm wide or more, "typically a complicated mass of wavy or leaflike folds, lobes, and convolutions; reddish-cinnamon to brown, vinaceous-brown, or tinged purple", often paler when wet; "flabby or gelatinous when moist, bone-hard when dry"; no stem..." ^[E-flora-5]
  • "...usually occurs on wood with bark still attached, and develops as a cluster of leaf-like lobes from a common base. It is typically some shade of brown, sometimes blackish brown, often with a violet or reddish orange cast. Few things in our area could be confused with it." ^{[Trudell MPNW]}
• Edibility: edible ^[WEFGO] "The fruitbody is edible, but it is mostly water, (Arora)." ^[E-flora-5]

Tremella fuciformis - White Jelly Fungus ^{[EPMW Hall]}

• "''...known as the white jelly fungus or silver ear mushroom. It is a long-time favorite in China, especially for medicinal purposes, and the dried fruiting bodies of Tremella are conspicuous in most pharmacies specializing in Chinese medicines. It is also consumed as a food and usually as a special dessert." ^{[Chang Mushrooms]} "Tremella fuciformis has both medicinal and culinary uses. The polysaccharides and steroids it contains reportedly have antitumor and anti-inflammatory properties and also serve as a general tonic. ...can be included in desserts and added to soups and other dishes. Though it has little flavor, the smooth gelatinous texture of this mushroom is appealing to the Asian palate." ^{[EPMW Hall]}
• Edibility: edible ^[WEFGO] "The mushroom product is often purchased dried and must be soaked before usage. It is used in both savory and sweet dishes.... It can be sautéed in olive oil and butter (after rehydration)" ^{[HealingMushrooms]}
• Medicinal Uses: "...used against tuberculosis, high blood pressure, and even the common cold. " ^{[HealingMushrooms]} "The fruiting body of Tremella fuciformis Berk is a famous food and traditional drug used clinically as a tonic against weakness caused by illness and aging in China (Cheung 1996, Gao et al. 1996b)." ^[Baets2001]
• "Effect. Nourishing yin, moistening the lung, reinforcing the stomach and promoting the production of the body fluid." ^{[Xinrong TCM]} "Lifeprolonging, vitalizing and anti-cancer properties have been ascribed to T. fuciformis, and these effects seem to be due mainly to a stimulation of the immune system (Wasser, 2002). The biochemical basis is thought to be due to the production of exopolysaccharides by this and other Tremella spp., including T. mesenterica (Reshetnikov et al., 2000). However, it is as yet unclear how such polysaccharides are assimilated by the human digestive system, and how they interact with human cells." ^{[IntrotoFun3]}
• Indication. Cough due to consumption, bloody sputum and thirst due to asthenia heat." ^{[Xinrong TCM]}
• Pharmacology:
  • "A highly branched glucuronoxylomannan from the fruiting bodies of a related species, Tremella fuciformis, gives a dose-dependent hypoglycemic action in normal as well as streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. Plasma insulin level and hepatic activities of hexokinase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase are elevated while hepatic glucose-6-phosphatase activity is depressed (Kiho et al. 1981)." ^{[Arora HFB]}
  • "Antilipemic effects of polysaccharides from Tremella fuciformis and T. aurantia have been shown to lower plasma cholesterol levels (Sheng and Chen, 1989; Kiho et al., 2000), while an antihypercholesterolemic agent has been produced from fruit bodies and mycelium of T. aurantai (Koichi and Takahiro, 1999)." ^{[Smith 2002 MM]}
• Uses: "The fruit bodies of T. fuciformis are consumed in a stewed form, especially as a dessert, and this species has traditionally also been viewed as a medicinal mushroom in the Far East." ^{[IntrotoFun3]}
  • Lifeprolonging, vitalizing and anti-cancer properties have been ascribed to T. fuciformis, and these effects seem to be due mainly to a stimulation of the immune system (Wasser, 2002)." ^{[IntrotoFun3]}
• Patents: "For the use of extracts of Tremella fuciformis Berk in the manufacture of a pharmaceutical agent for treatment of wounds and other skin injuries, a patent has been granted to Xiu (1996)." ^[Baets2001] "A pharmaceutical solution containing fruit bodies of Tremella fuciformis, Daucus carota root, Astragalus mongholicus root, and Zizyphus jujuba fruits, honey, vitamin A palmitate, zinc sulfate, and vitamin C was useful for controlling AIDS, cancer, and infections ^DC139." ^{[MPW Ross]}
• Nutritional
  • 0.6% Lipids' (Dry wt)^{[Chang Mushrooms]}
  • Sterols
    • 0.01% (Dry Wt) provitamin-D2 ^{[Chang Mushrooms]}
    • 0.02% provitamin-D4 ^{[Chang Mushrooms]}
    • 0.03% y-ergosterol ^{[Chang Mushrooms]}
  • Total Dietary Fiber - 54.5% ^{[Peter C. Cheung]} "Both A. auricula and T. ficiformis have very high dietary fiber content (3) which may have potential hypocholesterolemic effect similar to other high-fiber foods (4)." ^[Cheung1996]
• Description: "This is a very beautiful white tremella growing in woods on leaf mold close to the ground. ^{[Atkinson SAF]}
• Habitat/Range: "... T. fuciformis is a basidiomycete of worldwide distribution..." "Tremella fuciformis is found mainly in subtropical regions, but it has also been reported from tropical and temperate regions and even frigid zones.6 Tremella fuciformis grows on the wood of hardwood trees". ^{[Chang Mushrooms]} "a jelly fungus described from a lignicolous substrate in South America, but is apparently much more widely distributed." ^{[Chang BCEM]} "...the host fungus is Hypoxylon archeri, one of the black Pyrenomycetes, all of which are wood decay fungi." ^{[HealingMushrooms]} "It grows on the decayed trunk of hardwood trees such as oak and willow (Chang 1998)." ^[Baets2001]
• Production: Tremella is being produced in greater amounts now than in some years past, because new techniques have been developed for its stable production using sawdust mixed with cottonseed hulls, which have removed some of the hazards in Tremella cultivation and the requirement for wood logs. " ^{[Chang Mushrooms]} "Species of Tremella generally dry down to "almost nothing" but can readily be revived by soaking. Drying, however, is the method used to preserve most of the material of Tremella fuciformis offered for sale." ^{[Chang BCEM]}
• Cultivation: "Unlike the cultivation of other mushrooms, acceptable yields of the white jelly fungus can only be achieved if a companion fungus is grown with it. This fungus degrades the substrate in advance of the white jelly fungus. One companion species that can be used is the ascomycete Hypoxylon archeri (Chang and Miles 1989). " ^{[EPMW Hall]} "Although almost always associated with Hypoxylon spp. in nature (Chen, 1998), mycoparasitism does not seem to be obligate because cultivation is possible in monoculture. However, yields are greatly stimulated in the presence of a ‘friend of the mycelium’, i.e. the substrate is co-inoculated with T. fuciformis and Hypoxylon archeri or another suitable host species (Chang & Miles, 2004)." ^{[Introtofun3]} "In China harvested mushrooms are commonly dried on racks in the sun. Alternatively they can be dried in an oven (first drying the outer surface at about 30°C, followed by higher temperatures to complete the drying process)." ^{[EPMW Hall]}
• Economic Potential: "In 1997, 130,000 MT (fresh weight) of Tremella were produced, mostly in China. The dried mushroom is shipped to countries in Southeast Asia, Japan, and to Europe, North America, and Australia. It will certainly be welcomed by the people of Asian origin in those areas. From the standpoint of increasing its use as a food in Western countries, the probabilities of Tremella being widely accepted rank below those of the other mushrooms that have been considered." ^{[Chang Mushrooms]}
• "In early 1976, the price for dried Tremella was $4.70/kg. Fifty percent of the production is exported and 50% is sold on the local market. However, it is mainly utilized for cooking and for medicinal purposes. Tremella is widely used in Chinese medicine against endemy.... The canned form is much less important than the dried form. It is called the white jelly fungus and the net drained weight is always very light compared to the net one. In Taiwan, in 1976, the following sales prices at retail level were found: $0.34 for a 425 gm net and 108 gm net drained weight." ^{[Chang BCEM]} T. fuctiformis was selling wholesale at $5-10/kg according to a report from 1999/2000. ^{[EMPW Hall]}

Tremella lutescens - Yellow Jelly Fungus

• Edibility: edible ^[WEFGO]
• "This fungus... is a common inhabitant of old logs, where it grows as a convoluted, soft, gelatinous mass. It was once known as "witch's butter," from the fanciful belief that it was associated in some way with witches. It is edible but has never attained much favor in Europe or America, perhaps because the plant is small and tends to become slimy with age or perhaps because methods of preparing it to bring out its best qualities have not vet been devised." ^{[Clyde_M._Christensen]}

Tremella mesenterica - Witch’s butter Local

• Description: "is yellow, not orange, and grows on hardwood."^{[FGWMP Russell]} "One of the commonest and most thoroughly examined species is T. mesenterica, whose yellow or orange gelatinous fruit bodies are readily seen on various woody hosts such as oak, willow, gorse and beech.... Variations in the intensity of fruit body coloration could be due to a stimulation of carotenoid synthesis by high light intensity because fruit bodies exposed to sunlight are often more deeply coloured than those in the shade (Wong et al., 1985). The fruit bodies of T. mesenterica are usually associated with those of Peniophora in the field, and Zugmaier et al. (1994) have shown that hyphae of Peniophora spp. are parasitized in vivo and in vitro. " ^{[IntrotoFun3]}
• Habitat: "Single to several on downed hardwood logs, above ground; spring, summer, fall." ^{[MOFMUS Huffman]} "Tremella mesenterica or ’Witches butter’ is a common species in Europe, America (especially the San Francisco Bay Area) and the high mountains of Taiwan." ^[Baets2001]
• Similar Species: "Two similar orange jelly species, Dacrymyces palmatus (which usually fruits on conifers) and Dacrymyces ellisii (typically found on hardwoods), differ in the kind of basidia produced." ^{[MOFMUS Huffman]}
• Edible Uses: “The Chinese roll it in sugar. It’s edible, but it has no taste of its own. That’s why they roll it in sugar.” ^{[Fine MT]}
• Medicinal Uses: "The early Anglesey botanist Hugh Davies insisted that the gelatinous mass known in those parts under the name ‘star-shot’, which he had found very effective when rubbed on chilblains, was a species of Tremella..." ^[MPFT]
• Commercial Interests: "Myco Ltd. (Israel) have developed a submerged fermentation method to produce Tremellastin from T. mesenterica mycelium which contains 50% glucuronoxylomannan, together with proteins rich in amino acids, dietary fibre and vitamins of the B group. Dietary supplements from Tremella are only now beginning to expand into the Asian market, and they will certainly be of special significance in the cosmetic industry." ^{[Smith 2002 MM]}
• Cultivation: "The early cultivation of Tremella was similar to that used for Lentinula. Logs were placed in the vicinity of logs on which the fruiting bodies of Tremella were present, and inoculation occurred simply by the chance dissemination of spores from the fruiting bodies. Later, the inoculation was not left to the whims of nature, but a type of spawn, referred to... as a “tissue suspension” was used. This was prepared by grinding up fruiting bodies in water in a mortar. Since the early 1960s, a pure culture spawn method has been used in Taiwan. This pure culture spawn substrate is composed either partly of wood (like the spawn of Lentinula) or of sawdust and rice bran." ^{[Chang Mushrooms]} "For cultivation of T. fuciformis, the trees should be felled between late autumn and early spring. This minimizes the peeling of the bark and subsequent contamination by other fungi. It also influences the amount of sugar in the wood logs, which has an effect on the rate of mycelial growth. The water content of the trees also should be considered in the time for cutting into logs and the time of inoculation. Generally, the trees are cut into logs approximately 1.0 to 1.2 m long 1 month after they are felled." ^{[Chang Mushrooms]} "Fruiting bodies begin to appear about 2 months after inoculation, and they continue to be produced on the wood logs for approximately 7 months. Frequent watering to keep the logs wet during the period of mushroom production is the main requirement in management besides harvesting, which is performed daily to remove the mushrooms when they reach a certain size (10 to 15 cm)." ^{[Chang Mushrooms]}
• Harvesting: "The fruiting body should be harvested when the leaflike blades of the fruiting body are completely open. The mushroom is then 10 to 15 cm in diameter. As stated in the previous section, other indications that the fruiting body should be harvested are a change in color from transparent to white and the softening and drooping of the outside part of the fruiting body." ^{[Chang Mushrooms]}
• Processing: "If the fruiting body is dirty, it should first be washed. The fruiting bodies should be placed in a container for drying in the sunlight, which is the best method for drying. If drying must be done indoors, a temperature of 29^oC should be used initially; after the surface of the fruiting body is dry, the temperature should be raised to 48C. The fruiting body will be completely dry within 24 hours. An alternative procedure has also been used for rainy-day drying. This involves drying the fruiting bodies initially at a temperature of 30^oC and then gradually raising the temperature to 60^oC" ^{[Chang Mushrooms]}

Mycological Associations

"It has been shown that Tremella has only a weak ability to break down wood. For this reason wood with rich nutrients of good solubility, i.e., a wood rich in sapwood, is commonly selected for wood log cultivation. It has also been demonstrated experimentally that Tremella lacks the ability to degrade either cellulose or lignin. It is the role of the biological factor or friend of the mycelium to help Tremella in the digestion of the wood and to provide some residual nutrition. The featherlike hyphae of the ascomycete lead the way into the wood log, and presumably provide some nutrition to support the growth of Tremella. The term featherlike mycelium refers to the appearance of the mycelium, while the phrase leading the way refers to its role in wood log utilization in association with Tremella." ^{[Chang Mushrooms]}

"One companion species that can be used is the ascomycete Hypoxylon archeri (Chang and Miles 1989)." ^{[EPMW Hall]} "Tremella species are mycoparasites—they don’t eat the wood but rather another fungus that is eating the wood. In this case, the host fungus is Hypoxylon archeri, one of the black Pyrenomycetes, all of which are wood decay fungi." ^{[HealingMushrooms]}

Mycoremedediation

• Tremella fructformis had a biosorption capacity of 79mg/g with Reactive black 5 dye waste. It also had a biosorption capacity of 892mg/g with Sulfur Black 1 dye waste. ^{[Mycorem Singh]}
• "Among the Tremellomycetidae, the members of the Cystofilobasidium and Tremella clades exhibit less or no ability to utilize aromatic compounds." ^{[Mycorem Singh]}

Further Research

"Tremellales can be identified in North America using McNabb...in Europe using Breitenbach and Kränzlin (1984);..." ^{[BOF Elsevier]}

"a considerable proportion of the Tremellales are tropical, but their geographic distributions are still poorly known." ^{[BOF Elsevier]}

Jelly images not yet identified

Unknown Species

References

• Baets2001 - Extracellular Tremella polysaccharides: structure, properties and applications, S. De Baets & E.J. Vandamme, Biotechnology Letters 23: 1361–1366, 2001.
• Cheung1996 - The hypocholesterolemic effect of two edible mushrooms: Auricularia auricula (tree-ear) and Tremella fuciformis (white jelly-leaf) in hypercholesterolemic rats, Cheung, Peter C.K. Nutrition Research , Volume 16 , Issue 10 , 1721 - 1725
• [E-flora]
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