Auricularia auricula: The Jelly Ear

[ Basidiomycetes > Auriculariales > Auriculaceae > Auricula ... ]

by Michael Kuo

The common name for this fungus, the "Jelly Ear," is very appropriate--a rarity with common names in English. Just take a look at the photos to the right, and you can see why people think Auricularia auricula looks like the missing part of a Van Gogh self portrait.

Unlike the cup fungi, this fungus has jelly-like flesh, and its spores are catapulted from little spore-holders, placing it in the Basidiomycetes rather than in the Ascomycetes, where spores are forcibly shot out of little spore-jets.

Though it may not look too appetizing, you have probably already eaten it--or a very close relative--if you like Chinese food; it is frequently used in egg rolls and other dishes. I don't recommend you drop one on a salad and munch down, however. Typically, jelly ears are dried (they become stiff and blackish) and then placed in stuffings and fillings. Drying them, however, is not an easy task, and the whole process probably involves more effort than the results justify; the dried pieces are rather tasteless.

Description:

Ecology: Saprobic on decaying hardwood and conifer sticks and logs; spring, summer, and fall (sometimes even in winter); widely distributed in North America.

Fruiting Body: Wavy and irregular; typically ear-shaped; 2-15 cm; gathered together and attached at a central or lateral position; fertile surface (usually the "downward" one) gelatinous, tan to brown; sterile surface (usually the "upper" one) silky to downy, veined, irregular, brown; flesh thin, gelatinous-rubbery.

Spore Print: White.

Microscopic Features: Spores 12-18 x 4-8 µ; sausage shaped.

In an unfortunate bit of antisemitism from the fathers of mycology, Auricularia auricula-judae is a synonym. Nina Marshall's 1902 explanation for the name, in The Mushroom Book, can be found to the right.

REFERENCES: (Linnaeus, 1753) Underwood, 1902. ( Bulliard, 1780; Fries, 1822; Saccardo, 1888; Smith, 1949; Smith, 1975; Smith, Smith & Weber, 1981; Weber & Smith, 1985; Arora, 1986; States, 1990; Phillips, 1991/2005; Lincoff, 1992; Metzler & Metzler, 1992; Horn, Kay & Abel, 1993; Evenson, 1997; Barron, 1999; Roody, 2003; McNeil, 2006; Miller & Miller, 2006; Kuo, 2007.) Herb. Kuo 04179502, 05099501, 06130203, 04270702.

Further Online Information:

Auricularia auricula-judae at Roger's Mushrooms

Cite this page as:

Kuo, M. (2002, June). Auricularia auricula: The jelly ear. Retrieved from the MushroomExpert.Com Web site: http://www.mushroomexpert.com/auricularia_auricula.html

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