Habitat
This species grows on the wood of deciduous trees, most frequently on elder branches. While it primarily favors dead or dying broad-leaved wood, it can occasionally be found on conifers and may act as a weak parasite. It typically appears in tufted groups and is widely distributed across temperate and subtropical regions of the world.
Photos
Appearance
- Fruit body
- Generally two to eight centimeters wide and shaped like a human ear. It is attached narrowly to the wood and usually lacks a stem. The surface can be smooth, wrinkled, or veined.
- Outer surface
- The top or outer side has a tan-brown to purplish-brown color and is covered in fine, velvety, grayish hairs.
- Inner surface
- The spore-bearing underside is gray-brown to purple-brown and typically smooth or wrinkled with vein-like ridges.
- Flesh
- The texture is gelatinous, rubbery, and elastic when fresh or wet, becoming hard, brittle, and horny when dried.
- Spore print
- White.
Sporecast is better in the app
Plan ahead with 10-day forecasts, see what people are finding nearby, get photo IDs, and track your finds.
Edibility
This mushroom has a rubbery, gelatinous texture and a mild flavor. Because it contains significant moisture, care should be taken when frying as it is prone to popping and exploding if not sliced into thin strips or weighted down. While there are no similar species in Europe, it is nearly identical to the Asian species Auricularia polytricha.
Misidentification can be fatal. Never eat a mushroom unless you're 100% sure. This information may be inaccurate. Always consult multiple sources.
Nutrient Source
SaprotrophicIt grows on dead wood, such as dead trees or fallen branches, and obtains nutrients by decomposing decaying organic matter.
Common Names
- Basque
- judasen belarria, judasen belarri
- Catalan
- orella de Judas
- Danish
- Almindelig judasøre
- Dutch
- Echt judasoor, echt judasoor
- English
- Jew's Ear, Jelly Ear, Wood Ear
- French
- Oreille de Judas
- German
- Judasohr
- Norwegian
- Judas-øre
- Norwegian Bokmål
- judasøre
- Norwegian Nynorsk
- judasøyre
- Spanish
- Oreja de Judas
- Swedish
- judasöra
- Welsh
- Clustiau'r Ysgaw
Synonyms
- Auricula auricularis
- Auricula tremellosa
- Auricularia albicans
- Auricularia auricula
- Auricularia auricula-judae
- Auricularia auricula-judae
- Auricularia auricularis
- Auricularia judae
- Auricularia lactea
- Auricularia nidiformis
- Auricularia sambuci
- Auricularia sambucina
- Auricularia tremellosa
- Exidia auricula
- Exidia auricula-judae
- Gyraria auricularis
- Hirneola auricula
- Hirneola auricula
- Hirneola auricula-judae
- Hirneola auricularis
- Hirneola nidiformis
- Laschia tremellosa
- Merulius auricula
- Peziza auricula
- Peziza auricula
- Peziza auricula-judae
- Tremella auricula
- Tremella auricula-judae
- Tremella caraganae