Auricularia is a genus of jelly fungi in the family Auriculariaceae. Preliminary phylogenetic studies suggest the Exidiaceae is closely related to Auriculariaceae – the two share many morphological traits. Fruitbody either resupinate or pileate and then either ear-to shell-shaped or forming narrow, imbricate brackets, flabby elastic or tough gelatinous; hymenial surface smooth, wrinkled or veined, often purplish. Basidia cylindrical, with 1–3 transverse septa. Spores narrowly ellipsoid to allantoid, hyaline, smooth. Most Auricularia species are edible and are grown commercially. Auricularia species are widely distributed in Kerala's Western Ghats, and recently, Auricularia auricula-judae, A. polytricha, and A. mesenterica have been reported.