GROWING GOURMET - Anto2ni.it

396 GROWTH PARAMETERS
Auricularia polytricha (Montagne) Saccardo
351 & 352. A. polytricha 6 and 12 days after inoculation onto malt agar media.
Introduction: According to records from China circa 600 AD., this mushroom is heralded as the
first species to be cultivated, (Chang & Miles, 1987 & 1989). This mushroom has an unusual,
appealing texture when eaten but, by itself, is not remarkably flavorful. Nevertheless, A. polytricha
is highly prized in Asia and is commonly used in soups. Upon drying, Wood Ears shrivel to a
fraction of their original size, and upon contact with water, rehydrate and enlarge true to form.
Wood Ear or Ear Fungus
Tree Ear or Maomuer (Chinese)
Yung Ngo or Muk Ngo (Chinese)
Mu-er, Mo-er (Chinese, often also used forA. auricula)
Kikurage (Japanese for "Tree Jelly Fish")
Mokurage (Japanese)
Aragekikurage (Japanese)
Taxonomic Synonyms & Considerations: At least three very similar Wood Ear taxa occur in the
Americas. Auricularia polytricha (Montagne) Saccardo has been reported in Louisiana, but is also
common from theAmericas through Mexico and south to Argentina. It is brownish and coarsely Common Names:
hairy
on its outer surface with the hairs measuring up to 450 x 6 The common northern temperate species
of Wood Ear bearing strong resemblance to A. polytricha is Auricularia auricula (Hooker)
Underwood which is brownish and finely hairy on its outer surface. The hairs of this latter species is
much shorter, measuring 100 x 6 (See Lowy (197 1)).As a cultivator, I find that humidity has a great
affect on this character. Hence, the
delineation of these two taxa is often difficult, underscoring their
close alliance. One other feature
proposed for delineation is the presence or absence of clamp connections.
A. polytricha has them; A. auricula does not. In the Orient, Auricularia auricula is generally
collected from the wild and not as widelycultivated. The Japanese callA. auricula—"Senji" whereas
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