Snow fungus

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iSnow fungus

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Fungi
Division:	Basidiomycota
Subdivision:	Hymenomycotina
Class:	Heterobasidiomycetes
Order:	Tremellales
Family:	Tremellaceae
Genus:	Tremella
Species:	T. fuciformis

Binomial name

Tremella fuciformis
Berkeley

Tremella fuciformis mycological characteristics:	?
Image:Smooth icon.png smooth hymenium
Image:No cap icon.png no distinct cap
Image:NA gills icon.png hymenium attachment is not applicable
Image:NA stipe icon.png lacks a stipe
Image:White spore print icon.png spore print is white
Image:Saprophytic ecology icon.png ecology is saprophytic
Image:Choice toxicity icon.png edibility: choice

Snow fungus (Tremella fuciformis, also known as white fungus or silver tree-ear fungus) is a type of jelly fungus (a kind of mushroom) that is used in Chinese cuisine. In Chinese, it is called 银耳 (pinyin: yin er lit. "silver ear") or 白木耳 (pinyin: bai mu er lit. "white wood ear"), and in Japanese it is called shiro kikurage (シロキクラゲ, lit. "white tree jellyfish").

The fungus grows in frilly masses on trees and is off-white in color and very translucent.

The product is often purchased dried and must be soaked before usage. It is used in both savory and sweet dishes. While tasteless, it is enjoyed for its jelly-like texture as well as its supposedly medicinal benefits.