The Jelly Ear Fungus

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I was out and about with my camera again this past weekend, and I found something else that I thought was pretty cool: a patch of jelly ear fungus. I was fairly certain of my identification as soon as I saw it, but it wasn’t until I asked around for confirmation that I realized the moniker ‘jelly ear’ can actually refer to any of several different species of fungi including Auricularia aricula-judae, Auricularia americana, Auricularia fuscosuccinea, and Auricularia angiospermarum. All four of these species are very similar to one another. They derive their genus name, ‘Auricularia’, from the fact that they look like little ears growing out of old stumps and logs where they are saprobic feeders, meaning that they work to decompose the already-dead wood as their energy source. They are typically brown to reddish brown in color, and the may begin to develop little folds and wrinkles as they age; making them look remarkably like the auricle (outer part) of a human ear. They even begin to grow tiny peach-fuzz like hairs on them as they age… just like some humans.

Wrinkly Old Ears

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But, they don’t just look like ears; they actually feel like ears. They have a gelatinous texture, but they are still very firm. They remind me of those sticky hands that you buy out of the quarter machines… or the cartilage in your ear. They are very foldable, but they do not tear or pulverize easily. When folded, they spring back to their original shape as soon as you let them go. Their cold, gelatinous-but-firm texture makes them quite mesmerizing to play with… just like human ears.

Auricularia species are so similar that species-level identifications almost can’t be made just by looking at macro characteristics. However, based on my location and the type of wood that I found my specimen on, I think we can narrow it down quite a bit. Let’s learn a little bit about each of these species.

Auricularia auricula-judae

This was the species of wood ear that came to mind when I saw my specimen. I remembered reading about it before, and I wasn’t aware that there were other, very similar species.

General Characteristics & Growing Habit

This particular species is commonly found throughout Europe and Asia, but similar specimen known to grow in North America appear to constitute a different species.

Within the range where it occurs, A. auricula-judae mainly grows on decaying branches of elder trees. In fact, that is where it gets its specific epithet, ’auricula-judae’, which translates to Judas’ ear. According to tradition, after Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus Christ, he hung himself from the branch of an elder tree, and A. auricula-judae has grown on the elder tree ever since then as a consequence/reminder (depending on which story you read) of his torment.

A New Name?

As most words and phrases do over time, the common name ‘Judas’ ear’ underwent a transformation; first probably caused by some confusion with the contraction in the word. Perhaps, Judas’ (belonging to Judas Iscariot) somehow became Juda's (belonging to the nation or tribe of Judah). From there, it was shortened again to ‘Jew’s ear’; a name that some began to use insultingly. As a result of the pejorative nature of this newer common name, there is a movement to change the specific epithet of this species to Auricualria auricula, dropping the hyphenated reference to Judas Iscariot.

Was This My Specimen?

After some research, I am pretty sure that my specimen was not A. auricula-judae, as this species has been shown to be genetically different from Auricularia species found in North America.

Auricularia americana

This species of wood ear is found in North America. While it is extremely similar to A. auricula-judae morphologically, genetic tests have shown it to be a separate species.

Was This My Specimen

One of the things that I find most fascinating about mushrooms is their specificity when it comes to the substrate they grow on. Whereas the European/Asian species of Auricularia grow predominately on elder wood, this American species focuses on the wood of conifers. The small patch of forest where I found this collection is made up mostly of cedar with some oak and a couple of persimmons. Best I could tell, the rotting log in question appeared to have fallen from one of the oak trees; therefor, these were probably not A. Americana.

A. fuscosuccinea and A. angiospermarum

These last two species are so similar that they really can’t be differentiated from one another without microscopic observation or genetic testing. Like the other wood ears that have been mentioned, these two species are usually brown in color. In North America, they can be found throughout the spring, fall, and summer (and apparently even in the winter). They are usually found to be more or less ear-shaped, but they may also take on a more cup-shaped appearance with the fruiting body measuring anywhere from 2 - 5 cm across. While they may be spread out, they generally have a habit of growing in a clump; almost growing over top of one another.

Was This My Specimen?

Based on the information that I was able to gather and the guidance of local experts, I am pretty sure that my collection belongs to one of these species. From there, the only way to nail it down farther would be by viewing my specimen under a microscope. Apparently - and I’m talking a bit over my head, here - specimen of A. fuscosuccinea display an area called a medullary zone; whereas, A. angiospermarum does not. I am not familiar enough with the microscopic anatomy of mushrooms to explain what that means, exactly; but I would welcome anyone who can to share in the comments!

Medicinal & Culinary Uses Of Wood Ear

While I do not recommend eating wild mushrooms without attaining a positive species-level identification from a field expert, if you have a wood ear, it is edible. While they are not known to have a distinct flavor of their own, they are good at absorbing and concentrating the flavors that they are cooked in, and they can bring a nice crunchy texture to a dish. They can be dried and easily reconstituted, and they are quite popular in Asian cuisine. In fact, Australia use to harvest and export them China where they were known as the cloud fungus and the black mushroom.

They are also believed to have several medicinal uses, some backed up with scientific tests. It is said to be an anticoagulant, that it can lower cholesterol, have hypoglycemic effects, and even fight tumors!

Indeed, scientists have isolated anticoagulant compounds from the mushrooms, and studies show that extracts from A. auricula may aid in gastrointestinal cancer treatments without adding any adverse effects to the treatment plan.

In Conclusion

Based on guidance from local experts and information that I was able to find online, I am pretty sure that my collection shown in the photos was a type of wood ear; probably either A. fuscosuccinea or A. angiospermarum; however, I do not have the equipment or the know-how to distinguish between the two any further.

Even though, these particular mushrooms are quite distinct, and there are no known dangerous look alikes, I still am not yet comfortable enough with my identification skills to attempt eating them; even though they probably provide decent medicinal value.