21 March 2010 Surrey. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. Common Name Wood Ear, Jelly Ear Fruiting Body Ear shaped, attached to the substrate by one edge, upper surface finely downy, lower surface smooth, pinkish brown, to about 8 cm across Flesh Purple-brown, gelatinous, tough, becoming hard when dry Smell Indistinct Taste Indistinct Season All year Distribution Very common Habitat On wood from deciduous trees and shrubs, favouring elder Spore Print White Microscopic Features Spores sausage shaped (16-18) x (6-8) µm2 Edibility Edible, considered in the West to have little value. It is widely used in Chinese cooking, in dishes such as hot and sour soup, where thin strips of the fungus add an interesting texture 
20 January 2008 Buckinghamshire. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. |