Ears

Amazing ear like growths on a dead Elder in the garden....you really can talk to the trees.

Auricularia auricula-judae

Size: Up to 60mm across.

Distribution: Found throughout the UK.

Months seen: All year round.

Habitat: Frequently found on elder and beech trees.

Special features: The name comes from the story that Judas Iscariot hung himself from an elder tree, and this type of fungi is often found growing on elder trees.

Jews Ear fungi is pale brown in colour, and really does resemble a human ear in both size, shape and texture. As it gets older it turns black and hard.

Jews Ear is one of the few fungi which has the ability to withstand freezing temperatures. This is a useful attribute, since it develops new growths in January (normally the coldest month of the year in the UK). It can actually freeze solid, and when thawed out shows no ill effects.