Jew's Ear Fungi

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Scientific name:  Auricularia auricula-judae

Size:  Grows to approx 70mm across and 5mm thick

Distribution:  Found throughout the U.K.

Months seen:  All year round

Habitat:  Usually grows on dead elderwood.  Sometimes on beech trees

Special features:  The Jew's Ear Fungi, or Wood Ear as it's sometimes called, is nearly always found growing on elder trees.  It's pale brown in colour, rubbery in texture and becomes darker and firmer with age.  It resembles a human ear in shape and texture and grows hanging downwards, like an upside-down cup.

Jew's Ear Fungi is one of the few species of fungi which has the ability to withstand freezing temperatures.  This is a useful attribute, since it is able to develop new growths in January (normally the coldest month of the year in the UK).  It can freeze solid, and when thawed out shows no ill effects.

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