Naematelia | |
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Gelatinous fruit body of Naematelia encephala with its host Stereum sanguinolentum | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Fungi |
Division: | Basidiomycota |
Class: | Tremellomycetes |
Order: | Tremellales |
Family: | Naemateliaceae |
Genus: | Naematelia Fr. |
Type species | |
Naematelia encephala | |
Synonyms | |
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Naematelia is a genus of fungi in the family Naemateliaceae. All Naematelia species are parasites of other fungi ( Stereum species) and produce anamorphic yeast states. When produced, Basidiocarps (fruit bodies),, are gelatinous and are colloquially classed among the "jelly fungi."Four species of Naematelia are currently recognized worldwide. One species, Naematelia aurantialba , is commercially cultivated for food.
Naematelia was introduced in 1816 by Elias Magnus Fries for fungal fruit bodies with a gelatinous outer layer and a hard inner core, as in the type species Naematelia encephala . Some mycologists subsequently used the name, while others considered Naematelia synonymous with Tremella since its basidia were Tremella-like. [1] In a 1961 paper, American mycologist Robert Bandoni showed that the hard inner core of Naematelia encephala was composed largely of host tissue ( Stereum sanguinolentum ) and that Naematelia, therefore, represented no more than a Tremella species and its host. [1]
However, molecular research, based on cladistic analysis of DNA sequences, has shown that Tremella is polyphyletic (and hence artificial). [2] [3] [4] [5]
Therefore, a different generic name was required for a group of species not closely related to Tremella mesenterica (the type species of Tremella), and in 2015 Naematelia was selected as the earliest such name available. Comparatively few species, however, has yet to be sequenced. [6]
Fruit bodies are gelatinous (but may have a hard inner core mainly composed of host hyphae) and are variously cephaliform (like a brain, with folds and ridges), lobed, or foliose (with leaf-like or seaweed-like fronds). Colors are typically pinkish, ochraceous, yellow, or brown.
Naematelia species produce clamped hyphae and have haustorial cells from which hyphal filaments seek out and penetrate the hyphae of the host. The basidia are "tremelloid" (globose to ellipsoid, sometimes stalked, and vertically or diagonally septate), giving rise to long, sinuous sterigmata or epibasidia on which the basidiospores are produced. These spores are smooth, globose to ellipsoid, and germinate by hyphal tube or yeast cells. Conidiophores are often present, producing conidiospores that are similar to yeast cells. [2] [7]
Species are parasitic on fruit bodies of Stereum species that grow on dead attached or fallen wood. Hosts include Stereum hirsutum on broadleaf trees and Stereum sanguinolentum on conifers.
As a group, Naematelia species occur worldwide, though individual species may have a more restricted distribution.
Image | Name | Distribution | Host |
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Naematelia aurantia | Asia, Australasia, Europe, North & South America | Stereum hirsutum [8] | |
Naematelia aurantialba | China | Stereum hirsutum [9] | |
Naematelia encephala | Asia, Australasia, Europe, North America | Stereum sanguinolentum [10] | |
Naematelia microspora | South Africa | Stereum species | |
Tremella fuciformis is a species of fungus; it produces white, frond-like, gelatinous basidiocarps. It is widespread, especially in the tropics, where it can be found on the dead branches of broadleaf trees. This fungus is commercially cultivated and is one of the most popular fungi in the cuisine and medicine of China. T. fuciformis is commonly known as snow fungus, snow ear, silver ear fungus, white jelly mushroom, and white cloud ears.
Tremella mesenterica is a common jelly fungus in the family Tremellaceae of the Agaricomycotina. It is most frequently found on dead but attached and on recently fallen branches, especially of angiosperms, as a parasite of wood decay fungi in the genus Peniophora. The gelatinous, orange-yellow fruit body of the fungus, which can grow up to 7.5 cm (3.0 in) diameter, has a convoluted or lobed surface that is greasy or slimy when damp. It grows in crevices in bark, appearing during rainy weather. Within a few days after rain it dries into a thin film or shriveled mass capable of reviving after subsequent rain. This fungus occurs widely in deciduous and mixed forests and is widely distributed in temperate and tropical regions that include Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North and South America. Although considered bland and flavorless, the fungus is edible. Tremella mesenterica produces carbohydrates that are attracting research interest because of their various biological activities.
Stereum sanguinolentum is a species of fungus in the Stereaceae family. A plant pathogen, it causes red heart rot, a red discoloration on conifers, particularly spruces or Douglas-firs. Fruit bodies are produced on dead wood, or sometimes on dead branches of living trees. They are a thin leathery crust of the wood surface. Fresh fruit bodies will bleed a red-colored juice if injured, reflected in the common names bleeding Stereum or the bleeding conifer parchment. It can be the host of the parasitic jelly fungus Tremella encephala.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
Tremella is a genus of fungi in the family Tremellaceae. All Tremella species are parasites of other fungi and most produce anamorphic yeast states. Basidiocarps, when produced, are gelatinous and are colloquially classed among the "jelly fungi". Over 100 species of Tremella are currently recognized worldwide. One species, Tremella fuciformis, is commercially cultivated for food.
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 are produced on soil and litter, sometimes partly encrusting stems of living plants. The fruit bodies are cartilaginous to rubbery-gelatinous and variously effused (corticioid) to coral-shaped (clavarioid). The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution.
Bulleribasidium is a genus of fungi in the family Bulleribasidiaceae. The genus currently contains some eleven species. The type species is a parasite of other fungi, its teleomorph having septate basidia and haustorial cells on its hyphae that connect to the host hyphae. Most species are, however, only known from their yeast states.
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.
Phaeotremella is a genus of fungi in the family Phaeotremellaceae. All Phaeotremella species are parasites of other fungi and produce anamorphic yeast states. Basidiocarps, when produced, are gelatinous and are colloquially classed among the "jelly fungi". Fifteen or so species of Phaeotremella are currently recognized worldwide.
Phaeotremella frondosa is a species of fungus in the family Phaeotremellaceae producing brownish, frondose, gelatinous basidiocarps. It is widespread in north temperate regions, and is parasitic on other species of fungi that grow on dead attached and recently fallen branches of broadleaf trees.
Phaeotremella foliacea is a species of fungus in the family Phaeotremellaceae. It produces brownish, frondose, gelatinous basidiocarps and is parasitic on the mycelium of Stereum sanguinolentum, a fungus that grows on dead attached and recently fallen branches of conifers. It is widespread in north temperate regions. In the UK it has the recommended English name leafy brain and has also been called jelly leaf and brown witch's butter. Prior to 2017, the name Tremella foliacea was also applied to similar-looking species on broadleaf trees, now distinguished as Phaeotremella frondosa and Phaeotremella fimbriata.
Naematelia aurantia is a species of fungus producing yellow, frondose, gelatinous basidiocarps. It is widespread in north temperate regions and is parasitic on another species of fungus that grows on dead attached and recently fallen branches of broadleaf trees. It is commonly called golden ear in North America.
Naematelia encephala is a species of fungus producing pink, brain-like, gelatinous basidiocarps. It is widespread in north temperate regions and is parasitic on another species of fungus that grows on dead attached and recently fallen branches of conifers. In the UK, its recommended English name is conifer brain.
Naematelia aurantialba is a species of fungus producing yellow, frondose, gelatinous basidiocarps parasitic on fruit bodies of another fungus, Stereum hirsutum, on broadleaf trees. In China, where it is called jīn'ěr, it is cultivated for both food and medical purposes.
Pseudotremella is a genus of fungi in the family Bulleraceae. All Pseudotremella species are parasites of other fungi and produce anamorphic yeast states. Basidiocarps, when produced, are gelatinous and are colloquially classed among the "jelly fungi". Four species of Pseudotremella are currently recognized worldwide. Two of these species are, as yet, only known from their yeast states.
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.