Jelly fugus

Tremella fuciformis

Tremella fuciformis (snow fungus or white jelly fungus) creates translucent, gelatinous fruiting bodies that look like clusters of coral or soft, frilled blossoms. It is located on the surface of rotting hardwoods in humid forests, especially after rain, when moisture levels are high. T. fuciformis parasitizes other wood-decaying fungi, mainly species of Hypoxylon, and derives nutrients from its mycelium [1][2].

Ecologically, T. fuciformis has an important indirect role in the decomposition process. By preying on and keeping other decomposers in check, it maintains a more diverse and balanced turnover of nutrients in moist, decaying environments. The fungus's gelatinous texture is a remarkable adaptation for water retention, and its presence can help sustain local humidity and microbial activity in forest ecosystems [2][3].

In addition to its natural habitat and behavior, Tremella fuciformis has a long history of human use. For centuries, it has been grown in East Asian cultures as both a culinary and medicinal mushroom, prized for its polysaccharides that can help with skin hydration and immune health [4]. The dual nature of T. fuciformis, as both a decomposer in the wild and a symbol of nourishment in human contexts, is a reflection of the complex relationships that exist between natural and human systems [5].

[1] Kuo, Michael.“Tremella fuciformis.” MushroomExpert.com. https://www.mushroomexpert.com/tremella_fuciformis.html

[2] Wikipedia contributors.“Tremella fuciformis.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Last modified 2025. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tremella_fuciformis

[3] Fu, Guang-Qiang, Yi-Xuan Li, Yan He, Hua Zhang, and Xia Ma.“Extraction, Structure and Bioactivity of Tremella fuciformis Polysaccharides: A Review.” Food & Medicine Homology 2 (2025): 9420038. https://doi.org/10.26599/FMH.2025.9420038

[4] Shen, Tao, Chao Duan, Beidong Chen, Meng Li, Yang Ruan, Danni Xu, Doudou Shi, Dan Yu, Jian Li, and Changtao Wang. “Tremella fuciformis Polysaccharide Suppresses Hydrogen Peroxide-Triggered Injury of Human Skin Fibroblasts via Upregulation of SIRT1.” Molecular Medicine Reports 16, no. 2 (2017): 1340–1346. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2017.6754