Naematelia aurantialba (Bandoni & M. Zang) Millanes & Wedin, formerly Tremella aurantialba, is a golden-yellow to orange brain-like jelly fungus prized in China as 'Jin Er' (golden ear). It grows together with, and is thought to parasitize, the crust fungus Stereum hirsutum (and related Stereum species) on hardwood, although the nature of the relationship still needs more evidence. Fruit bodies are cerebriform, firm-gelatinous, and contain a whitish core of host-derived tissue.
Edible and medicinal in Chinese tradition; used in soups and sweet dishes for its texture. Polysaccharides are studied for immunomodulatory and antioxidant effects.
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Habitat
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On dead hardwood (often oak) colonized by its Stereum host.
Distribution
China (Yunnan, Sichuan, Xizang, Fujian, Qinghai, Gansu).
Characteristics
Fruit body: cerebriform to lobed cushion, 3-15 cm, bright golden-yellow to orange; firm-gelatinous with a tough whitish internal core. Microscopy: tremelloid (longitudinally septate) basidia; hyphae with clamp connections. Host: Stereum hirsutum and allies.
Difficulty
Advanced
Growth speed
Slow
Contamination risk
Medium
Substrates
Supplemented hardwood sawdust co-inoculated with Stereum hirsutum
