Which Species of Auricularia Is This?

[ZUnit]

So I learned Auricularia is used to treat hemorrhoids in ancient Chinese medicine. I am wondering if the American species have the same compounds as the ones they use overseas and which species this is. It seemed relatively fresh and soft. I know they darken with age And usually only find old black crusty ones.

[Dave W]

No idea about the specific medical application mentioned. The species of Auricularia pictured is likely different than any of those found in China. I don't know the names of the Chinese species. Years back, all Auricularia species were lumped into one species concept, A. auricula. DNA-based studies conducted during the previous 10-20 years have revealed a few North American species, the two most common of which are A. americana (on conifer wood) and A. angiospermarum (on hardwood). I have found (I *think*) the latter on grape vine branches https://mushroomobserver.org/318673?q=1psME , as well as on hardwood branches   https://mushroomobserver.org/451866?q=1p9YK .

The branch seen in the photos posted here look like hardwood. So, my guess is A. angiospermarum. 

[ZUnit]

Thanks for the help. Adam Haritan says Auricularia Judae was split into 7 new species all of which are considered edible and some might have anti tumor and vaso-dilator properties. I was more worried about some of them being inedible so that makes it easier at least. I think I am gonna keep digging on new info on these. The world of Phenotypes is really heating up. Stamets said some interesting things on the recent Joe Rogan episode. Got me excited to try and find some novel phenotypes with higher levels of medicine or even possibly different compounds if I understood him right. I wish I had a device to help me differentiate between them though. Probably gonna have to send everything to a lab and wait.

[Dave W]

I think you would need DNA to determine the ID to species. There are more than the two species I mentioned found in NA. Here's a link to a paper published in 2013   chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://mathenylab.utk.edu/Site/Publications_files/Looney_et_al_2013.pdf . This paper makes no mention of A. angiosprermarum. Instead, it discusses the "hardwood version of A. americana." As seen here in the Wiki link, this is A. angiospermarum   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auricularia_angiospermarum .