Jelly ear

This is a very widespread fungus, especially on mature Elder stems, but I still find the wonderful velvety texture and deep purple-brown colour absolutely bewitching. It is interesting in that the common name it had for many years has now been dropped so that it doesn't cause offense, but it is still present in the scientific name Auricularia auricula-judae, which is not so easy to change. This example was beginning to be semi-transluscent as the rays from the setting sun became almost horizontal.