Auricularia auricula-judae, the Jew's Ear Fungus,
is mainly seen in winter and spring. It grows on dead elder trees and on
fallen branches. This fungus is sometimes used in cookery.
Size |
Lobes grow to between 3 and 10 cm across. |
Description
|
The outer surface of the lobed fruit body is
tan-brown with a purple tinge and covered in a fine greyish velvety down.
The inner surface is smooth.
If you are not put off by the strange appearance and sombre colour of
this fungus, it is in fact edible when cooked - and very popular in some
eastern countries. |
Spores |
White. |
Odour/taste |
Not distinctive. |
Habitat |
On dead and decaying elder wood; also on the
branches of elder trees that are dying, and sometimes on the trunks of
living elders. It is rare but not unknown to find this fungus on other
kinds of broad-leaf trees. |
Season |
Throughout the year but most prevalent in late
summer and autumn. |
Occurrence |
Frequent and widespread. |
Similar species |
- Auricularia mesenterica, commonly known as Tripe Fungus or
Grey brain Fungus, is
smaller, greyish-brown and forms bracket-like tiers on dead broad-leaf
timber. It is more 'hairy' and much paler than Jew's ear Fungus.
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