Cloud ear fungus
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| Cloud ear fungus | |
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| Cloud ear fungus | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Basidiomycota |
| Class: | Heterobasidiomycetes |
| Order: | Auriculariales |
| Family: | Auriculariaceae |
| Genus: | Auricularia |
| Species: | A. polytricha |
| Binomial name | |
| Auricularia polytricha (Mont.) Sacc. |
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| Auricularia polytricha | |
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smooth hymenium |
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no distinct cap |
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hymenium attachment is irregular or not applicable |
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lacks a stipe |
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spore print is white |
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ecology is saprotrophic |
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edibility: choice |
Cloud ear fungus (Auricularia polytricha, syn. Hirneola polytricha) is an edible jelly fungus. It is gray-brown in color and often used in Asian cooking.
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[edit] Etymology
It is known as Chinese: 云耳; pinyin: yún'ěr, lit. "cloud ear"), Chinese: 毛木耳; pinyin: máomù'ěr, lit. "hairy wood ear"), or 木耳 (pinyin: mù'ěr, lit. "wood ear" or "tree ear"), and in Japanese it is called arage kikurage (キクラゲ, lit. "tree jellyfish"). It is also known as black fungus, black Chinese fungus (or mushroom), wood ear fungus, wood fungus, ear fungus, or tree ear fungus, an allusion to its rubbery ear-shaped growth. In Europe, it is frequently confused as "Jew's ear", and "Jelly ear", albeit they are very closely related. In Hawaii, they are known as pepeiao which means ear.[1]
[edit] Habitat
The fungus grows in frilly masses on dead wood. It is a dark brown color but somewhat translucent.
[edit] Uses
It is usually sold dried and needs to be soaked before use. While almost tasteless, it is prized for its slightly crunchy texture and potential medicinal properties, including its newly discovered anticoagulant properties. Of note, the slight crunchiness persists despite most cooking processes.
It is found to be effective in reducing blood pressure, and possibly LDL cholestrol levels. This can be done by drinking water in which the fungus has been slow-cooked for at least an hour.[citation needed]
[edit] Related fungi
Auricularia auricula-judae, a closely related species, is also used in Asian cuisine and has been suggested as an acceptable culinary alternative to Wood Ear fungus.[2]
Snow fungus, another edible fungus which is white in color, is a separate species, Tremella fuciformis.
[edit] References
- ^ Elizabeth Speith. "Auricularia polytricha (Auriculariaceae) - HEAR species info". Hear.org. http://www.hear.org/species/auricularia_polytricha/. Retrieved 2011-02-28.
- ^ [1][dead link]
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Auricularia auricula-judae |
