Guardian Nature School Team Contact Blog Project Noah Facebook Project Noah Twitter

A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife

Join Project Noah!
nature school apple icon

Project Noah Nature School visit nature school

AURICULARIA AURICULA-JUDAE (Bull.) J.Schröt.

AURICULARIA AURICULA-JUDAE (Bull.) J.Schröt.

Description:

Auricularia auricula-judae, known as the Jew's ear, jelly ear or by a number of other common names, is a species of edible Auriculariales fungus found worldwide. The fruiting body is distinguished by its noticeably ear-like shape and brown colouration; it grows upon wood, especially elder. Its specific epithet is derived from the belief that Judas Iscariot hanged himself from an elder tree; the common name "Judas's ear" eventually became "Jew's ear", while today "jelly ear" and other names are sometimes used. The fungus can be found throughout the year in temperate regions worldwide, where it grows upon both dead and living wood. Although it is not widely consumed in the west, it has long been popular in China, to the extent that Australia exported large volumes to China in the early twentieth century. While not widely consumed in the west, A. auricula-judae was used in folk medicine as recently as the 19th century for complaints including sore throats, sore eyes and jaundice, and as an astringent. Today, the fungus is a popular ingredient in many Chinese dishes, such as hot and sour soup, and also used in Chinese medicine. It is also used in Ghana, as a blood tonic. Modern research into possible medical applications have variously concluded that A. auricula-judae has antitumour, hypoglycemic, anticoagulant and cholesterol-lowering properties.

Species ID Suggestions



Sign in to suggest organism ID

No Comments

Лесковац, Централна Србија, Serbia

Spotted on Feb 18, 2013
Submitted on Feb 18, 2013

Spotted for Mission

Related Spottings

Jew's ear Judas Ear Jew's Ear Wood Ear

Nearby Spottings

STEREUM HIRSUTUM  (Willd.) Pers. BOLETUS  sp. PANUS RUDIS Fr. TRICHIA  DECIPIENS (Pers.) T. Macbr.
Noah Guardians
Noah Sponsors
join Project Noah Team

Join the Project Noah Team