Jelly fungi are a paraphyletic group of several heterobasidiomycete

fungal A fungus ( : fungi or funguses) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a kingdom, separately from th ...

orders from different classes of the subphylum

Agaricomycotina The subdivision Agaricomycotina, also known as the hymenomycetes, is one of three taxa of the fungal division Basidiomycota (fungi bearing spores on basidia). The Agaricomycotina contain some 20,000 species, and about 98% of these are in the cla ...

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 th ...

Dacrymycetales The Dacrymycetes are a class of fungi in the Basidiomycota. The class currently contains the single order Dacrymycetales, with a second proposed order Unilacrymales now treated at the family level. The order contains four families and has a cosmo ...

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 (fruit bodies) that produce spores on s ...

and Sebacinales. These fungi are so named because their

foliose Foliose lichen is one of the morphological classes of lichens, which are complex organisms that arise from the symbiotic relationship between fungi and a photosynthetic partner, typically algae. This partnership allows lichen to live in diverse ...

, irregularly branched

fruiting body The sporocarp (also known as fruiting body, fruit body or fruitbody) of fungi is a multicellular structure on which spore-producing structures, such as basidia or asci, are borne. The fruitbody is part of the sexual phase of a fungal life cy ...

is, or appears to be, the consistency of jelly. Actually, many are somewhat rubbery and gelatinous. When dried, jelly fungi become hard and shriveled; when exposed to

water Water (chemical formula ) is an Inorganic compound, inorganic, transparent, tasteless, odorless, and Color of water, nearly colorless chemical substance, which is the main constituent of Earth's hydrosphere and the fluids of all known living ...

, they return to their original form. Many species of jelly fungi can be eaten raw;

poisonous Poison is a chemical substance that has a detrimental effect to life. The term is used in a wide range of scientific fields and industries, where it is often specifically defined. It may also be applied colloquially or figuratively, with a broa ...

jelly fungi are rare. However, many species have an unpalatable texture or taste. They may or may not be sought in

mushroom hunting Mushroom hunting, mushrooming, mushroom picking, mushroom foraging, and similar terms describe the activity of gathering mushrooms in the wild, typically for culinary use. This practice is popular throughout most of Europe, Australia, Japan ...

due to their

taste The gustatory system or sense of taste is the sensory system that is partially responsible for the perception of taste (flavor). Taste is the perception produced or stimulated when a substance in the mouth reacts chemically with taste receptor ...

, which is described as similar to that of

soil Soil, also commonly referred to as earth or dirt Dirt is an unclean matter, especially when in contact with a person's clothes, skin, or possessions. In such cases, they are said to become dirty. Common types of dirt include: * Debri ...

. However, some species, ''

Tremella fuciformis ''Tremella fuciformis'' is a species of fungus; it produces white, frond-like, gelatinous basidiocarps (fruiting bodies). It is widespread, especially in the tropics, where it can be found on the dead branches of broadleaf trees. This fungus is c ...

'' for example, are not only edible but prized for use in soup and vegetable dishes.

Notable jelly fungi

*''

Ascocoryne sarcoides ''Ascocoryne sarcoides'' is a species of fungus in the family Helotiaceae. The species name is derived from the Greek sarkodes (fleshy). Formerly known as ''Coryne sarcoides'', its taxonomical history has been complicated by the fact that it ma ...

'' – jelly drops, purple jellydisc (often mistaken for basidiomycota but is not) *''

Auricularia auricula-judae ''Auricularia auricula-judae'', which has the recommended English name jelly ear, also known as Judas’s ear or Jew’s ear, is a species of fungus in the order Auriculariales. Basidiocarps (fruit bodies) are brown, gelatinous, and have a noti ...

'' – wood ear, Judas' ear, black fungus, jelly ear *'' Auricularia polytricha'' – cloud ear *'' Calocera cornea'' *''

Calocera viscosa ''Calocera viscosa'', commonly known as the yellow stagshorn, is a jelly fungus, a member of the Dacrymycetales, an order of fungi characterized by their unique "tuning fork" basidia. It has bright orange, yellow or occasionally white branch ...

'' – yellow tuning fork, yellow stagshorn fungus *''

Dacrymyces palmatus ''Dacrymyces chrysospermus'' is a species of jelly fungus in the family Dacrymycetaceae. In the UK it has the recommended English name of orange jelly spot; in North America it is known as orange jelly or orange witch's butter. The species is sap ...

'' – orange jelly *''

Dacryopinax spathularia ''Dacryopinax spathularia'' is a species of fungus in the family Dacrymycetaceae. Basidiocarps (fruit bodies) are gelatinous, frequently spathulate (spoon-shaped), and grow on wood, mainly in the tropics and subtropics. The fungus is edible and i ...

'' *''

Exidia glandulosa ''Exidia glandulosa'' (common names black witches' butter, black jelly roll, or warty jelly fungus) is a jelly fungus in the family Auriculariaceae. It is a common, wood-rotting species in Europe, typically growing on dead attached branches of ...

'' – black jelly roll, witches' butter *''

Exidia recisa ''Exidia recisa'' (common name willow brain or amber jelly roll) is a jelly fungus in the family Auriculariaceae. It is a common, wood-rotting species throughout the northern hemisphere, typically growing on dead attached twigs and branches of ...

'' - amber jelly roll, willow brain *''

Guepiniopsis alpina ''Guepiniopsis alpina'', commonly known as the jelly cup, alpine jelly cone, or poor man's gumdrop, is a species of fungus in the family Dacrymycetaceae. The small, gelatinous Fruit bodies are orange and cone or cup shaped. Found in western Nort ...

'' – golden jelly cone *''

Phlogiotis helvelloides ''Guepinia'' is a genus of fungus in the Auriculariales order. It is a monotypic genus, containing the single species ''Guepinia helvelloides'', commonly known as the apricot jelly. The fungus produces salmon-pink, ear-shaped, gelatinous fruit b ...

'' – apricot jelly *''

Myxarium nucleatum ''Myxarium nucleatum'' (common names crystal brain or granular jelly roll) is a jelly fungus in the family Hyaloriaceae. The sporocarps (fruit bodies) are watery white and gelatinous with small, white, mineral inclusions. It is a common, wood- ...

'' – crystal brain, granular jelly roll *''

Pseudohydnum gelatinosum ''Pseudohydnum gelatinosum'' is a species of fungus in the order Auriculariales The Auriculariales are an order of fungi in the class Agaricomycetes. Species within the order were formerly referred to the " heterobasidiomycetes" or "jelly fun ...

'' – jelly tooth, jelly tongue *''

Tremella foliacea ''Phaeotremella foliacea'' (synonym ''Tremella foliacea'') is a species of fungus in the family Phaeotremellaceae. It produces brownish, frondose, gelatinous basidiocarps (fruit bodies) and is parasitic on the mycelium of '' Stereum sanguinolent ...

'' – jelly leaf *''

'' – snow fungus *''

Tremella mesenterica ''Tremella mesenterica'' (common names include yellow brain, golden jelly fungus, yellow trembler, and witches' butter) is a common jelly fungus in the family Tremellaceae of the Agaricomycotina. It is most frequently found on dead but attached ...

'' – witches' butter, yellow brain fungus *'' Tremellodendron'' and ''

Sebacina ''Sebacina'' is a genus of fungi in the family Sebacinaceae. Its species are mycorrhizal, forming a range of associations with trees and other plants. Basidiocarps (fruit bodies) are produced on soil and litter, sometimes partly encrusting stems ...

'' spp. – jellied false corals

Notes

References

* * *

External links

AmericanMushrooms.com: Jelly Fungi
{{Taxonbar, from=Q14333188 Agaricomycotina Fungus common names Mushroom types Basidiomycota

Notable jelly fungi

See also

Notes

References

External links