![]() ![]() Growing on a tree, with only sporadic access to water, the fungus has developed the ability to shrivel up during dry periods and swell up again when it rains. The outer side of the fungus varies from reddish brown to violet-grey and feels velvety to the touch. ![]() Now and again the fungus can also be found growing on other deciduous trees such as sycamore and beech. ![]() It draws its nutrients from the wood and gradually destroys it. The fungus has several common names, including elder fungus, because of this association with elder trees and jelly ear because of its gelatinous consistency. The fungus is often found growing on the trunk and branches of older elder trees and this is probably the source of the Latin name as Judas was said to have hanged himself on an elder tree after betraying Christ. Auricularia Auricula-Judae or the wood ear is an odd-looking fungus with a long list of common names, including black fungus, jelly ear fungus, Judas ear, and the truly unfortunate moniker, Jew’s ear.The German Society of Mycology has selected the Jew's ear fungus (Auricularia auricula-judae) as fungus of the year 2017, to draw attention to this extraordinary fungus. The fruiting body does, indeed, often resemble a human ear growing out of a tree and has a very rubbery texture, like gummy candy. And yet this rubbery ear can be eaten and has been cultivated for food in China for centuries. It’s often available dried, when it loses its rubbery quality and turns black. Where the wood ear lives is a difficult question. It is Eurasian, but up until recently it was thought to have a North American distribution as well. Now, the North American wood ear appears to be not one but two or even three species, not all of which even have names yet, none of which are now included as A. Older sources lump all these species together, and some newer accounts could as well, if the authors drew from older information. It grows on trees, usually branches and not on the ground. As result, it can be difficult to tell which species is actually being discussed. Common Name: Tree Ear, Wood Ear, Jelly Ear, Mu-erh or Mo-er (Chinese), Senji (Japanese) The fungus grows from a single attachment and has the general bracket-cup shape and gelatinous texture of a human ear. ![]() The species of the North American complex are almost impossible to distinguish from each other or from true A. auricula-judae without a microscope, and how they might differ from each other biochemically is not clear. Cultivated wood ear may also differ from the wild form biochemically, either because of its genetics or because of its diet (typically sawdust and gain, not solid wood). There are more distantly-related look-alikes as well, though experienced foragers can spot the difference without much trouble. The wood ear is an exotic mushroom valued largely for its culinary qualities, but has been used traditionally as medicine in both Asia and Europe, and it does contain potentially medicinal substances. Auricularia auricula-judae is an edible nutrient-rich mushroom, which is a traditional medicinal resource in China. To what extent eating whole mushroom might have a therapeutic effect is not clear.Īuricularia Auricula-Judae Identification and DescriptionĬap: There is no cap per se. While predominantly found in China, it also. The entire fruiting body is a thin, irregular disc (may be ear-shaped) that is rubbery or gelatinous in texture and reddish-brown in color. Black fungus ( Auricularia polytricha) is an edible wild mushroom sometimes known as tree ear or cloud ear fungus, given its dark, ear-like shape. there are too many look-alikes to make any general rule safe to follow. One side, generally the upper side, is smooth. Auricularia auricula-judae, which grows most often on rotting elderberry wood. MUSHROOMS OF TELLURIDE: AURICULARIA AURICULA - The Tree-ear Jelly Fungus. The other side is very finely hairy and may appear whitish as a result. There are 3 poisonous look-alikes of oyster mushrooms. The slightly hairy surface produces spores. The fruiting body is attached to the substrate directly, either by the edge or by the middle. ![]()
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