{"id":14494,"date":"2020-04-30T10:40:03","date_gmt":"2020-04-30T09:40:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/?p=14494"},"modified":"2025-05-20T13:06:28","modified_gmt":"2025-05-20T12:06:28","slug":"identify-jelly-ear-mushrooms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/2020\/04\/30\/identify-jelly-ear-mushrooms\/","title":{"rendered":"Jelly Ear Mushroom (Auricularia auricula-judae) Identification"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Jelly Ear Mushroom \/ All Year Round \/ Edible<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n<p><strong>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-14494 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-medium'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/2021\/04\/15\/identify-wild-carrot\/jelly-ear_below_spring-e1544548483269\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Jelly-Ear_below_Spring-e1544548483269-300x300.png\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Jelly-Ear_below_Spring-e1544548483269-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Jelly-Ear_below_Spring-e1544548483269-450x450.png 450w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Jelly-Ear_below_Spring-e1544548483269-100x100.png 100w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Jelly-Ear_below_Spring-e1544548483269-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Jelly-Ear_below_Spring-e1544548483269.png 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/2020\/04\/30\/identify-jelly-ear-mushrooms\/jelly-ear\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Jelly-ear-225x300.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Jelly-ear-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Jelly-ear-scaled-900x1200.jpg 900w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Jelly-ear-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Jelly-ear-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Jelly-ear-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Jelly-ear-113x150.jpg 113w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Jelly-ear-scaled.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/2020\/04\/30\/identify-jelly-ear-mushrooms\/jelly-ear_top_spring-2\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Jelly-Ear_Top_Spring-1-300x225.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Jelly-Ear_Top_Spring-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Jelly-Ear_Top_Spring-1-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Jelly-Ear_Top_Spring-1-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Jelly-Ear_Top_Spring-1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Jelly-Ear_Top_Spring-1-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Jelly-Ear_Top_Spring-1-150x113.jpg 150w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Jelly-Ear_Top_Spring-1-900x675.jpg 900w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Jelly-Ear_Top_Spring-1-scaled-e1648131368883.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/2020\/04\/30\/identify-jelly-ear-mushrooms\/jelly-ear-large-group-on-elder-min\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Jelly-ear-large-group-on-elder-min-300x225.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Jelly-ear-large-group-on-elder-min-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Jelly-ear-large-group-on-elder-min-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Jelly-ear-large-group-on-elder-min-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Jelly-ear-large-group-on-elder-min-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Jelly-ear-large-group-on-elder-min-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Jelly-ear-large-group-on-elder-min-150x113.jpg 150w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Jelly-ear-large-group-on-elder-min-900x675.jpg 900w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/2020\/04\/30\/identify-jelly-ear-mushrooms\/jelly-ear-mushroom-on-branch-blurred-background-promo-advertising-image-capturecollect-min\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/jelly-ear-mushroom-on-branch-blurred-background-promo-advertising-image-@capturecollect-min-300x200.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"Jelly ear mushrooms\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-126519\" srcset=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/jelly-ear-mushroom-on-branch-blurred-background-promo-advertising-image-@capturecollect-min-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/jelly-ear-mushroom-on-branch-blurred-background-promo-advertising-image-@capturecollect-min-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/jelly-ear-mushroom-on-branch-blurred-background-promo-advertising-image-@capturecollect-min-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/jelly-ear-mushroom-on-branch-blurred-background-promo-advertising-image-@capturecollect-min-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/jelly-ear-mushroom-on-branch-blurred-background-promo-advertising-image-@capturecollect-min-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/jelly-ear-mushroom-on-branch-blurred-background-promo-advertising-image-@capturecollect-min-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/jelly-ear-mushroom-on-branch-blurred-background-promo-advertising-image-@capturecollect-min.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-126519'>\n\t\t\t\tJelly ear mushrooms\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/2020\/04\/30\/identify-jelly-ear-mushrooms\/jelly-ear-mushroom-on-trunk-promo-advertising-image-capturecollect-min\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/jelly-ear-mushroom-on-trunk-promo-advertising-image-@capturecollect-min-300x200.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"Jelly ear mushrooms\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-126520\" srcset=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/jelly-ear-mushroom-on-trunk-promo-advertising-image-@capturecollect-min-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/jelly-ear-mushroom-on-trunk-promo-advertising-image-@capturecollect-min-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/jelly-ear-mushroom-on-trunk-promo-advertising-image-@capturecollect-min-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/jelly-ear-mushroom-on-trunk-promo-advertising-image-@capturecollect-min-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/jelly-ear-mushroom-on-trunk-promo-advertising-image-@capturecollect-min-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/jelly-ear-mushroom-on-trunk-promo-advertising-image-@capturecollect-min-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/jelly-ear-mushroom-on-trunk-promo-advertising-image-@capturecollect-min.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-126520'>\n\t\t\t\tJelly ear mushrooms\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\r\n<p>Jelly Ear Mushrooms are a delightful edible mushroom and although they can be found all year, early spring is when they&#8217;re most prolific.<\/p>\r\n<hr \/>\r\n<h2><b>Scientific Name<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<p>Auricularia auricula-judae<\/p>\r\n<hr \/>\r\n<h2><strong>Common names<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n<p>Jelly Ears, Wood Ears<\/p>\r\n<hr \/>\r\n<h2><b>Family<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<p>Auriculariaceae<\/p>\r\n<hr \/>\r\n<h2>Jelly Ear Mushroom Foraging Video<\/h2>\r\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Jelly Ear Mushrooms (Auricularia auricula-judae) - Foraging UK -\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/6eW1e19BlOo?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\r\n<hr \/>\r\n<h2><strong>Habitat<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n<p>Widespread throughout temperate and sub-tropical zones globally<\/p>\r\n<p>On dead or dying broadleaf wood, in particular, Elder.<\/p>\r\n<p>Click here to see our\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/2020\/04\/28\/identify-elder\/\">Identify Elder guide<\/a><\/p>\r\n<hr \/>\r\n<h2><b>Description<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<h2><b>Identifying Features<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<h2><b>Fruiting body<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<p>Brown and very much resembling a human ear in look and texture. Its cup hangs down towards the ground. In dry weather, it shrivels to a fraction of its hydrate size and becomes almost black. It re-hydrates after rain.<\/p>\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-24278\" src=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Jelly-Ear_below_Spring-e1544548483269-300x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Jelly-Ear_below_Spring-e1544548483269-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Jelly-Ear_below_Spring-e1544548483269-450x450.png 450w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Jelly-Ear_below_Spring-e1544548483269-100x100.png 100w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Jelly-Ear_below_Spring-e1544548483269-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Jelly-Ear_below_Spring-e1544548483269.png 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<hr \/>\r\n<h2><b>Smell<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not distinctive<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h2><b>Spores<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">White\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h2><b>Uses<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<h2><strong>Edible use<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n<p>Jell Ear\u2019s ability to dehydrate and rehydrate means it is excellent for long-term storage. It can be rehydrated in strong-flavoured sauces and will take up those flavours. Its texture lends itself towards oriental cuisine, however, soaked in strong fruit juice and covered in chocolate, it makes an interesting confectionery.<\/p>\r\n<p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Avoid frying in oil as it will explode!<\/p>\r\n<p>Another way to enjoy this is in something called a wood ear salad, soy sauce, sesame seed oil, chicken stock &amp; light salad greens &#8211; it&#8217;s beautiful.<\/p>\r\n<p>Any recipes that calls for the cultivated wood ear mushroom can be made using jelly ear mushrooms \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\r\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.yummly.co.uk\/recipes\/wood-ear-mushrooms\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Here&#8217;s a link to some nice wood ear mushroom recipes<\/a><\/p>\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-117691\" src=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/jelly-ear-sushi-min-1-226x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"226\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/jelly-ear-sushi-min-1-226x300.jpg 226w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/jelly-ear-sushi-min-1-771x1024.jpg 771w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/jelly-ear-sushi-min-1-768x1020.jpg 768w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/jelly-ear-sushi-min-1-1157x1536.jpg 1157w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/jelly-ear-sushi-min-1-113x150.jpg 113w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/jelly-ear-sushi-min-1-900x1195.jpg 900w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/jelly-ear-sushi-min-1.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 226px) 100vw, 226px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<hr \/>\r\n<h2><b>Medicinal Uses<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<p>An acidic polysaccharide (containing mannose, glucose, glucuronic acid and xylose) within the mushroom has been found to have some effect on reducing blood coagulation. Research is continuing into its use as an antithrombotic<\/p>\r\n<hr \/>\r\n<h2><strong>Known hazards<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n<p>Should be avoided by those with haemophilia or taking blood thinners<\/p>\r\n<hr \/>\r\n<h2><strong>Could be confused with <\/strong><\/h2>\r\n<p>Other cup fungus although the Jelly\/Wood Ear always has its \u201ccup\u201d hanging down. Other cup fungus have an upright cup<\/p>\r\n<hr \/>\r\n<h2><b>Extra Notes<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<p>There is a belief that Judas Iscariot hung himself on an elder after betraying Jesus Christ. The ears are a sign of his tormented spirit being trapped in the tree. However, the elder is a very weak tree and unable to support the weight of a human adult.<\/p>\r\n<p>Auricularia and auricula are both derived from the Latin word for \u201cear\u201d. Judae means Judas, the disciple who is named as betraying Jesus Christ in the Christian Bible \u2013 see folklore.<\/p>\r\n<hr \/>\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Jelly Ear Mushroom \/ All Year Round \/ Edible Jelly Ear Mushrooms are a delightful edible mushroom and although they can be found all year, early spring is when they&#8217;re most prolific. Scientific Name Auricularia auricula-judae Common names Jelly Ears, Wood Ears Family Auriculariaceae Jelly Ear Mushroom Foraging Video Habitat&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":24278,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[114,1778,1780,88,1776,1777,1779],"tags":[1322,239,152,189,1321,113,104,238,122],"class_list":["post-14494","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mushroom-identification","category-autumn","category-edible","category-mushrooms","category-spring","category-summer","category-winter","tag-auricularia-auricula-judae","tag-autumn","tag-edible","tag-jelly-ear","tag-jelly-ears","tag-mushroom","tag-spring","tag-summer","tag-winter"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14494","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14494"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14494\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":126524,"href":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14494\/revisions\/126524"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/24278"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14494"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14494"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14494"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}