Jelly ear
Auricularia auricula-judae
Jelly ear is a brown, gelatinous fungus with a noticeably ear-like shape, up to 9 cm across. It is rubbery and elastic when fresh and hard and brittle when dry, and its upper surface has fine grey down.
Where it's found
Grows on the wood of deciduous trees and shrubs, especially elder, also sycamore, beech and ash, favouring older branches.
Distribution
Found throughout the year in Europe.
Similar species
Did you know?
It can shoot out several hundred thousand spores an hour, even after drying considerably.
Identification suggestions (from the community or from AI) and the information here may be wrong; this app never confirms that anything is safe to eat. Do not consume wild plants, mushrooms or seafood without expert confirmation. Nothing here is medical advice.