Stats

Lifespan

A few months

Size

Small

Diet

Decomposer

Biome

Coniferous forest

Range

North America

Movement

Sessile

Breeding

Spores

Defense

Camouflage

Status

Uncommon

About

Jelly Tree Ear is a gelatinous, ear-like fungus that grows on dead conifer wood in North America and East Asia. Its basidiocarps are capable of producing spores in large quantities, which can be dispersed by the wind and water.

Life cycle

1. 1.
   spore

   A microscopic spore drifts on air or water and germinates where moisture and substrate meet.
2. 2.
   mycelium

   A thread-like mycelium spreads through the substrate, breaking it down into nutrients.
3. 3.
   fruiting body

   A mature fruiting body emerges to release the next generation of spores.

Learn more

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Taxonomy

Kingdom

Fungi

Phylum

Basidiomycota

Class

Agaricomycetes

Order

Auriculariales

Family

Auriculariaceae

Genus

Auricularia

Species

Auricularia americana