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Project Noah Nature School
Auricularia cornea
Ear shaped or upside down cup, brown fungus. Average size about 100mm (4") across but very variable with age and older bodies much larger and more undulating appearance. No visible stem attachment and quite gelatinous to the touch.
These bodies found on the trunk of a living broadleaf tree in Koutu Park in the town of Cambridge, New Zealand.
This is an edible fungus and had quite an important economic role in early NZ European history when it was harvested, dried and exported to China for food. The Maori people of NZ used it as a food source in times when other food sources were not available and called it 'hakeke'.
Spotted on Aug 26, 2016
Submitted on May 29, 2017
2 Comments
Thank you Mark. The tree was covered in them in all sizes. I really appreciate the comment and support. Rob
Wow that second shot is a knockout. :)