Parasitic fungi

All Tremella species are parasites of other fungi. Tremella fuciformis is commonly known as snow fungus, snow ear, silver ear fungus, white jelly mushroom and white cloud ears. It produces white, frond-like, gelatinous fruit bodies.The species is widespread, especially in the tropics, where it can be found on the dead branches of broadleaf trees. Tremella was one of the original genera created by Linnaeus in his Species Plantarum of 1753. The name comes from the Latin tremere meaning “to tremble”.

Tremella fuciformis White brain jelly fungus. Photo: John Gottschalk

Tremella fuciformis White brain jelly fungus. Photo: John Gottschalk

A white jelly fungi which could be Tremella fuciformis or Tremella globispora. Photo: Klaus Querengasser