Black Fungus from Yanshou

Black Fungus from Yanshou

　　Black Fungus from Yanshou

　　Black fungus, also known as black wood ear or shiny wood ear. It belongs to the phylum Basidiomycota, order Auriculariales, and family Auriculariaceae in fungal taxonomy. With its dark brown color, soft texture, delicious taste, and rich nutrition, it can be used in both vegetarian and meat-based dishes. Not only does it add great flavor to Chinese cuisine, but it also nourishes blood and beautifies the skin, giving a rosy complexion and radiant glow, and it can help prevent iron-deficiency anemia and offers other medicinal benefits. It is mainly distributed in Heilongjiang, Jilin, Fujian, Taiwan, Hubei, Guangdong, Guangxi, Sichuan, Guizhou, and Yunnan. It grows on decaying wood of more than 120 broadleaf tree species such as oak, poplar, banyan, and pagoda tree, either singly or in clusters. Currently, it is mainly cultivated on oak logs or using bag cultivation methods.