365 Urban species. #018: Wood Ear

[urbpan]

Urban Species #018: Wood ear Auricularia auricula

Wood ear, when found in the city, is most often in parks, on warm windy and wet winter days. The translucent, vaguely ear-shaped mushroom appears on the ends of dead branches, on narrow twigs usually still attached to living trees. It appears year-round, but is more obvious in winter when there are no leaves. When the wind gusts, the dead twigs may fall to the ground, bringing this strange gelatinous fungus to the sidewalk.

Its close relative A. polytricha can be found in hot and sour soup.

As was commented anonymously below, this is not Auricularia auricula but rather Exidia recisa

Comments

[cottonmanifesto.livejournal.com]

This post would not be complete without the following photo:

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

Thanks, hon!

[harebell.livejournal.com]

I was going to say this:
Those mushrooms make me swoon, but these days, everything does.

Now that I see this picture, I say this:
Dude. I have just finished going around the house taking pictures of things in my mouth. I have spent the entire day planning an oral fixation photo thing.
And wood ears ALWAYS make me want to lick them.

[drhoz.livejournal.com]

oddly enough I found Wood Ears growing on carpet once, back when I did pest inspections. very odd.

Auricularia vs Exidia

[(Anonymous)]

The fungus labeled Auricularia auricula is actually another fungus in the Tremellaceae named Exidia recisa. They are commonly confused. Google it and see.

Thanks.

[veggiecook.livejournal.com]

This is the thing that I refer to in my wood ear fungus recipe (http://www.chinesevegetarianrecipes.org/176/stir-fried-chinese-cabbage-with-wood-ear-fungus/). Thanks for the pictures.