Auricularia auricula-judae

Jelly Ear IV

Photographs of Jelly Ear (Auricularia auricula-judae), taken December 2016, local wood, Staffordshire. © Pete Hillman 2016. Camera used Nikon D7200, with Nikon 18-55mm lens.

12/16 by Peter Hillman Categories: Fungi, Nature Photography, Wildlife PhotographyTags: Auricularia auricula-judae, Fungi, Jelly Ear, Macro, Macro Photography, Mushroom, Mushrooms, Nature, Nature Photography, Wildlife, Wildlife Photography 8 Comments

Even More Jelly ear

Photographs of Jelly Ear (Auricularia auricula-judae), taken November 2016, local wood, Staffordshire. © Pete Hillman 2016. Camera used Nikon D7200, with Nikon 18-55mm lens.

11/16 by Peter Hillman Categories: Fungi, Nature PhotographyTags: Auricularia auricula-judae, Fungi, Jelly Ear, Macro, Macro Photography, Mushroom, Mushrooms, Nature, Nature Photography, Wildlife, Wildlife Photography 6 Comments

Photographs taken of Jelly Ear (Auricularia auricula-judae) on August 2016, local wood, Staffordshire. © Pete Hillman 2016. Camera used Nikon D7200, with Sigma 105mm macro lens, using natural light.

These were quite a challenge to photograph. Firstly I had to fight my way past some woodland brambles to get close enough to them. Then there was the issue of light. It was quite shaded, but there was some ambient light around so I thought I would try taking a few shots without the flash (which we have here) and then some with flash using a softbox flash diffuser. Surprisingly I preferred the ambient light, although the images are a little softer and have some noise, I think they appear more natural.

Please visit my Jelly Ear (Auricularia auricula-judae) post to learn more about this fungi.

08/1608/16 by Peter Hillman Categories: Fungi, Nature PhotographyTags: Auricularia auricula-judae, Auriculariaceae, Fungi, Jelly Ear, Macro, Macro Photography, Nature, Nature Photography, Wildlife, Wildlife Photography, Woodland 2 Comments

Jelly Ear

I came across this peculiar and interesting fungi in my local wood. When young and fresh this velvety brownish fungus has a gelatinous, wrinkled fleshy texture, shaped much like that of a floppy ear. As it ages and especially in dry weather, it hardens and shrinks, and it becomes darker in colour and quite brittle. Fruit body 4 to 15cm wide.

Seen throughout the year, but mainly in the spring and winter months. Found in deciduous woodland, preferring to grow on dead elderberry, but will thrive on other broadleaved trees and shrubs. It often grows in clusters or tiers on standing or fallen trees. Widespread and very common. Also known as ‘Jew’s Ear’ or ‘Judas’s Ear’ after the belief that Judas Iscariot hung himself from an elder tree. This is where the scientific name originates from.