mushroom ID? (1 Viewer)

[tarves57]

First I thought this was just dead leaves. On closer inspection, they are some kind of mushroom.
Can anyone ID them?

Thanks,
Susan

 

[tarves57]

sorry - picture....

Don't know why the attachment didn't attach!

 

[T0ny]

Susan,
Colin J (aka JacobC) is your man for fungi of all sorts - I should send him a PM to ask him to look at these.

HTH

Tony

 

[Dave Smith]

It could be Auricularia auricula "Jews ear".
I am no expert but it looks like the picture in my book.
Is it growing on Elder?
My book (Collins guide to Mushrooms and Toadstools) says it is edible and good.
I wouldn't risk it though.

 

[Paul Rule]

Hi Susan, That fungus goes by the unfortunate name of Jew's Ear fungus (Auricularia auriculla-judae). Its quite common in these parts.

 

[Paul Rule]

Ah, Dave you beat me by a few seconds while I looked up the latin name. I have eaten these but they dont have that great a flavour

 

[T0ny]

Sorry, guys, didn't realise there were so many mycologists amongst us.

Tony

 

[tarves57]

Thanks!

I'll need to get myself a decent guide. I keep bidding for the New Naturalist Mushrooms and Toadstools on Ebay, but they usually go way over what I want to pay!

(The Open University suggested we should read as many of these as possible, unfortunately they are quite sought after by collectors....))

Susan

 

[Alastair Rae]

Definitely Ear Fungus because it really does look and feel like one. Called "Jew's Ear" or "Judas' Ear" because Judas was supposed to have hanged himself on an Elder tree, the main tree it grows on.

I have eaten them but they're not up to much.

 

[Nina P]

Dave Smith, has the same book as I use and it was not very expensive and easily obtained,Nina

 

[tarves57]

Thanks Nina, I found a very nice one, although too big to put in a pocket, on Amazon. It's called "Mushrooms and other fungi of Great Britain" by Roger Phillips. I saw it in Ottakars for £16.99 but found it second-hand on Amazon for £9 so that's not bad.
The pictures are amazing.

Susan

 

[Paul Rule]

Hi Susan, The Roger Phillips book is my main ref. book. Had it for some years and its never let me down.

Paul

 

[wandalf]

Have nary a clue but I love them anyway. Always facinated by fungi.

 

[cjay]

Yes I can confirm Ear Fungus. Not called Jews ear anymore due to the racist name.

Common on dead wood esp Elder. Can be fried in Butter but is very poor in taste.

 

[cjay]

Yes I can confirm Ear Fungus. Not called Jews ear anymore due to the racist name.

Common on dead wood esp Elder. Can be fried in Butter but is very poor in taste.