Auriculariaceae
Encyclopedia
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.
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. Both Lindau and Rea placed the family within the Auriculariales, but some subsequent authors placed it within the Tremellales
.
A radical revision was undertaken in 1984, when American mycologist Robert 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.
.
. According to a 2008 estimate, the Auriculariaceae contain 7 genera and over 100 species.
and A. 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".
Order (biology)
In scientific classification used in biology, the order is# a taxonomic rank used in the classification of organisms. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, family, genus, and species, with order fitting in between class and family...
Auriculariales
Auriculariales
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...
. 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
Auricularia
Auricularia is a genus of jelly fungi in the family Auriculariaceae. There are about eight species described in this genus, which has a widespread distribution.-Classification:...
species are cultivated for food on a commercial scale, especially in China.
History
The family was established in 1897 by German mycologist Gustav LindauGustav Lindau
Gustav Lindau , was a German mycologist and botanist.- Biography :Gustav Lindau studied natural history in Heidelberg and Berlin, where he studied under Simon Schwendener . He completed his doctoral thesis on the apothecia of lichens in1888...
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
Auricularia
Auricularia is a genus of jelly fungi in the family Auriculariaceae. There are about eight species described in this genus, which has a widespread distribution.-Classification:...
, but also Platygloea, Jola, Saccoblastia, and Stypinella (= Helicobasidium
Helicobasidium
Helicobasidium is a genus of fungus in the Helicobasidiaceae family.-Species:*Helicobasidium albicans*Helicobasidium anomalum*Helicobasidium arboreum*Helicobasidium candidum*Helicobasidium cirratum*Helicobasidium cirrhatum...
). In 1922, British mycologist Carleton Rea
Carleton Rea
Carleton Rea was an English mycologist, botanist, and naturalist.-Background and education:Carleton Rea was born in Worcester, the son of the City Coroner. He was educated at The King's School and Magdalen College, Oxford, where he studied law...
recognized the family as containing the genera Auricularia, Eocronartium, Helicobasidium, Platygloea, and Stilbum. Both Lindau and Rea placed the family within the Auriculariales, but some subsequent authors placed it within the Tremellales
Tremellales
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...
.
A radical revision was undertaken in 1984, when American mycologist Robert Bandoni used transmission electron microscopy
Transmission electron microscopy
Transmission electron microscopy is a microscopy technique whereby a beam of electrons is transmitted through an ultra thin specimen, interacting with the specimen as it passes through...
to investigate the ultrastructure
Ultrastructure
Ultrastructure is the detailed structure of a biological specimen, such as a cell, tissue, or organ, that can be observed by electron microscopy...
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
Auricularia
Auricularia is a genus of jelly fungi in the family Auriculariaceae. There are about eight species described in this genus, which has a widespread distribution.-Classification:...
had more in common with Exidia
Exidia
Exidia is a genus of fungi in the family Auriculariaceae. Species are saprotrophic, growing on dead attached or recently fallen wood, and produce gelatinous basidiocarps . The fruit bodies are variously pustular, lobed, button-shaped, or top-shaped...
and its allies (with "tremelloid" basidia), than with other auricularioid fungi. Bandoni therefore limited the Auriculariaceae to the genus Auricularia.
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. The precise circumscription of families within the order has not yet been examined, but a clade containing Auricularia and Exidia species (plus their allies) equates to the Auriculariaceae.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, or spiny. Some species, however, produce dry, leathery, or web-like fruit bodies resembling those of the corticioid fungiCorticioid fungi
The corticioid fungi are a group of fungi in the Basidiomycota typically having effused, smooth basidiocarps that are formed on the undersides of dead attached or fallen branches. They are sometimes colloquially called crust fungi or patch 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 cosmopolitanCosmopolitan distribution
In biogeography, a taxon is said to have a cosmopolitan distribution if its range extends across all or most of the world in appropriate habitats. For instance, the killer whale has a cosmopolitan distribution, extending over most of the world's oceans. Other examples include humans, the lichen...
. According to a 2008 estimate, the Auriculariaceae contain 7 genera and over 100 species.
Economic importance
Several species within the order are edible and two, Auricularia auricula-judaeAuricularia auricula-judae
Auricularia auricula-judae, known as the Jew's ear, jelly ear or by a number of other common names, is a species of edible Auriculariales fungus found worldwide. The fruiting body is distinguished by its noticeably ear-like shape and brown colouration; it grows upon wood, especially elder...
and A. 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".