# Jelly Ear (*Auricularia*)

The Jelly Ear fungus looks like a floppy ear! It is soft and squishy, and you can find it growing on dead trees.

- **Category:** [Fungi](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/fungi)
- **Rarity:** Rare
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** On decaying wood in forests
- **Also known as:** Black Fungus, Wood Ear

![Jelly Ear](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426085/objects/5123.jpg)

## Appearance

The Jelly Ear is a gelatinous, ear-shaped fungus, typically reddish-brown to dark brown, often with a velvety outer surface. Its wrinkled, wavy form strongly resembles a human ear, making it visually distinct from most other fungi found on wood.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Fungi
- **Phylum:** Basidiomycota
- **Class:** Agaricomycetes
- **Order:** Auriculariales
- **Family:** Auriculariaceae
- **Genus:** Auricularia

## Interesting facts

- Chewing Jelly Ear creates a fun, slightly crunchy or 'squeaky' sensation!
- It is commercially cultivated on logs or sawdust, especially in East Asia.
- This mushroom's Latin name, \*auricula-judae\*, means 'Judas's ear,' linking it to a biblical story!
- Traditional Chinese medicine uses Jelly Ear, believing it enhances blood circulation and well-being.

## Special abilities

- **Wood Recycler:** Jelly Ear can decompose dead deciduous wood because it produces enzymes that help them break down tough plant materials.
- **Freeze-Thaw Resistance:** Jelly Ear has a flexible, gelatinous texture that helps them withstand freezing and thawing without damage.

## Measurements & details

- **Edible:** edible
- **Size:** 3-10 cm
- **Growth Substrate:** wood
- **Season:** Year-round, especially autumn to spring
- **Spore Color:** White

## Ecological connections

- **Depends on:** [European Beech](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-beech) (*Fagus sylvatica*) — Decomposes dead wood of this common deciduous tree.
- **Depends on:** Elder (*Sambucus nigra*) — Often found growing on dead or dying elder branches.
- **Eaten by:** [Black Slug](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-slug) (*Arion ater*) — Slugs and snails sometimes feed on its soft, gelatinous fruiting body.

## Traits

- [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons.
- [Spore Producing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spore-producing): Spore-producing organisms reproduce by releasing small, often single-celled, reproductive units called spores.
- [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
- [Decomposer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/decomposer): Describes organisms that break down dead organic material, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.
- [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.

## Collections

- [Fungi](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/fungi)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Do not pick or eat anything you find. Some plants and mushrooms can be harmful.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Jelly Ear?

Compare the cap shape, the underside, the stem and base, and whether the fungus grows on wood or soil. Some fungi have gills, others pores or teeth. A cap seen only from above often hides the most useful features. Mushroom Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### Is Jelly Ear edible?

edible

### How big is Jelly Ear?

3-10 cm

### Where is Jelly Ear usually found?

On decaying wood in forests

### What does Jelly Ear grow on?

wood

### When is Jelly Ear in season?

Year-round, especially autumn to spring

### What color are Jelly Ear spores?

White

## Where to spot

- [Franz Sigel Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/franz-sigel-park) — New York, US · Park
- [Spring Mill Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/spring-mill-park) — Pennsylvania, US · Park

## More Fungi

- [Field Mushroom](https://www.snappit.app/explore/field-mushroom) (*Agaricus*)
- [Button Mushroom](https://www.snappit.app/explore/button-mushroom) (*Agaricus*)
- [Portobello Mushroom](https://www.snappit.app/explore/portobello-mushroom) (*Agaricus*)
- [Shiitake](https://www.snappit.app/explore/shiitake) (*Lentinula*)

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Source: [Jelly Ear: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/jelly-ear)