I can detect no real flavour in this mushroom, but its texture in a mushroom mix is quite pleasant. A similar and closely-related species is a very popular edible fungus in the Far East, and most notably in China where it is also used in medicine. Young fresh fruitbodies (above) are generally considered the best. Jelly Ear is sometimes used in cookery, where it provides an interesting texture but is nothing special in terms of flavour. It is more 'hairy' and much paler than Jelly Ear Fungus. The type species of the genus Auricularia its fruitbodies are smaller, greyish-brown and form bracket-like tiers on dead broad-leaf In Australia this fungus grows also on Eucalyptus trees and fallen branches.Īuricularia auricula-judae can be seen throughout the year, but it is most prevalent in lateĪuricularia mesenterica, commonly known as Tripe Fungus or Kinds of broad-leaf trees including Sycamore, Beech and Ash. It is rare but not unknown to find this fungus on other Saprobic, on dead and decaying Elder wood also on theīranches of Elder trees that are dying, and sometimes as a weak parasite on the trunks of Sausage shaped (allantoid), 16-18 x 6-8µm. Individual lobes of Auricularia auricula-judae grow to between 3 and 10cm across. I have tried it, and the texture is quite pleasant but I cannot detect any flavour at all. The Jelly Ear fungus, it is in fact edible when cooked and very popular in someĮastern countries. If you are not put off by the strange appearance and sombre colour of Tan-brown with a purple tinge and covered in a fine greyish velvety down. The outer surface of the lobed fruitbody is The legend, which dates back more than 400 years, suggests that the fulgal 'ears' that emerge from Elder wood are visible residues of Judas' tormented spirit. Other, older common names for this species include Wood Ear and Judas' Ear - the latter a reference to the belief that Judas Iscariot hanged himself on an Elder tree in shame after betraying Jesus Christ to his executioners. Older field guides may list this species under the common name Jew's Ear fungus, a derogatory term that I will mention only once in case you see it either online or in an earlier printed publication and wonder which species it refers to. Judae means Judas, the Jew who it is said betrayed Jesus. EtymologyĪuricula is a Latin word meaning ear. lactea Quel., Auricularia auricula ( L.) Underw., and Hirneola auricula-judae var. After several changes of genus this fungus was transferred into its present genus in 1897 by Austrian botanist-mycologist Richard Wettstein (1863-1931).Īmong the many synonyms that this ubiquitous woodland fungus has gathered are Tremella auricula L., Peziza auricula-judae (Bull.) Bolton, Tremella auricula-judae Bull., Exidia auricula-judae ( Bull.) Fr., Hirneola auricula-judae ( Bull.) Berk., Auricularia auricula-judae var.

The Jelly Ear Fungus was described scientifically in 1789 by Jean Baptiste François (Pierre) Bulliard, who named it Tremella auricula-judae. This fungus is also found in many parts of Asia and in Australia. Is seen mainly, but certainly not exclusively, on dead Elder wood in damp, shady locations. Distributionįairly frequent in Britain and Ireland as well as in most countries of mainland Europe and parts of Asia and North America, the Jelly Ear fungus The Jelly Ear fungi shown above are very pale young specimens emerging from a branch that has fallen from a Beech tree. Many are capable of reconstituting and continuing to produce spores when wetted after desiccation. The so-called Jelly Fungi are not really a taxonomic group but more a rag-tag of basidiomycetes with jelly-like textures, although few are a soft as the jelly we eat with custard. It grows mainly on dead elder trees and onįallen branches, but occasionally you may also find it growing on other kinds of hardwood. Phylum: Basidiomycota - Class: Agaricomycetes - Order: Auriculariales - Family: Auriculariaceaeĭistribution - Taxonomic History - Etymology - Identification - Culinary Notes - Reference SourcesĪuricularia auricula-judae, the Jelly Ear Fungus, Auricularia auricula-judae ( Bull.) Wettst.

Auricularia auricula judae