Wood Ear

    It's that time of year when the fungi kingdom shows less of its species, most fungus prefer the damper warmer months and not the frost covered months of mid winter.

   One of winter's edible fungi are the Wood Ear/Jelly Ear fungus(Auricularia auricula-judae). This very common fungus can be found all year round but is usually more often found in the colder months.

   Collected by lovers of edible wild fungi in the winter, these red-brown ear-shaped fruits are often used in Asian cooking such as stir fry and soups but have nothing special in terms of flavour.

   Wood Ears are mainly found on dead or living Elder in large numbers, but can be found occasionally on other wood such as beech.

   I've found this fungi in many places including my own garden, I have yet to try them as edibles.