Description

• Auricularia is a genus of wood-decaying jelly fungi in the family Auriculariaceae. The fruiting bodies are typically thin, flexible, gelatinous to leathery, and ear-shaped or irregularly lobed, ranging from light brown to dark brown or nearly black. The upper surface may be finely hairy, while the fertile lower surface is generally smooth or somewhat ridged. The genus includes several species with very similar appearances, making identification from appearance alone difficult.

Range

• Auricularia has a broad distribution in tropical, subtropical, and temperate regions worldwide. Eight species are currently recognized from Mexico, including species occurring in Guerrero. The genus is therefore represented in the broader Zihuatanejo region, particularly where suitable woody substrates and humid seasonal conditions occur.

Habitat

• Species of Auricularia grow primarily on dead or decaying wood, including fallen branches, logs, stumps, and other woody plant material. In Mexico they occur in tropical dry and semi-deciduous forests, tropical evergreen forest, cloud forest, oak and pine-oak forest, and other wooded habitats.