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the Jew's Ear Fungus


the Jew's Ear Fungus
Photo Information
Copyright: Gert Paassen (Gert-Paassen) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1213 W: 2 N: 4571] (13826)
Genre: Fungi
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-02-15
Categories: Fungi
Exposure: f/22, 1/3 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-03-10 23:37
Viewed: 1998
Points: 14
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note [Dutch]
Latin name-Auricula auricula judae

Auricularia auricula-judae, is one of the jelly fungi. All of the jelly fungi are Basidiomycota with unusual jelly-like texture. Most are more solid than jelly that you spread on bread, with a texture similar to that of Gummi Bears. The "jellys" are fun fungi to find in the woods and can be found very soon after a rainfall. Most of them have the uncanny ability to dry out then rehydrate, and you will likely be able to find them even in the early spring as leftovers from last year, even if you're in the far north. When you're out in the woods with your friends, it's nice to have a stories to tell, and we hope you will learn much about this fungus on this page.

The common name Judas's ear comes from the legend that Auricularia formed its ear-shaped fruiting bodies as a curse on the tree on which Judas hanged himself. If you don't remember your New Testament (or care about it), Judas was the apostle who betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. Obviously someone had an overactive imagination when seeing an ear on a tree and thinking of Judas. However the intriguing name has stuck, even with the normally stuffy taxonomists. In fact "Auricularia" means ear and the epithet "auricula-judae" means "the ear of Judas." Since the mushroom is particularly prevalent on menus in Oriental restaurants, more preferred names would be the "wood ear mushroom" or the "cloud ear mushroom," Some would consider other translations of the name perjorative, and hence I have not mentioned them here. Sometime the scientific name is listed as Hirneola auricula. It seems likely that Auricularia polytricha, cultivated for use in Oriental dishes, is a very close relative or even the same species. However, it certainly can be much larger and tends to grow in subtropical to tropical areas. It is easily available in dried form in almost every oriental food store, in specialty food markets, and even in many large grocery stores.
sandu_andreea, goldyrs, fungiman, boreocypriensis, jaycee has marked this note useful
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ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To sandpiper2: ThanksGert-Paassen 1 03-12 05:43
To goldyrs: Thank you,Gert-Paassen 1 03-11 05:56
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Critiques [Translate]

Very good details, and composition
TFS

Gert,
thank you for the wonderful critique, I did not understand it, but I know you wish to teach me. I am new to this, and I really appreciate it.Please feel free to come down to India and be my guest.
This is an amazing shot, and I love the details!
Thank you so much!
Goldy

Good colours and nice and sharp with a good point of view. Its no longer PC to call our local species Jew's Ear here not that the mycologist can make up there mind what to call ours (Its had 9 different names over the years with Auricularia cornea been the latest.

Hallo Gert,

Een heel herkenbare paddestoel, deze judasoor. Ik denk ook dat je hem niet gauw over het hoofd ziet. Mooi en duidelijk weergegeven. Kleuren komen zeer natuurlijk over. Zoals gebruikelijk heel scherp. De wat diagonale postitie van de compositie doet het beeld completeren. Leerzame notitie. Groeten en TFS BOB

Hi Gert,
Realy this mushroom resembles ear. Wonderful capture of this interesting mushroom with excelent details, sharpnes and lighting friend! TFS. Cheers,
Bayram

Hello Gert,
I liked this jelly fungi with those wonderful purple colour!
the pov is excellent with perfect exposure and focus here
a good shot with a informative notes about it
many thanks
best regards
Tony

Hi Gert

Yes we get several species from this genus in Australia, though I don't think I;ve posted any yet. They do have a gummy bear testure, what a great way to decribe that feature.

Technically very good with good DOF and sharpness.

Chris

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2493 W: 11 N: 6885] (21912)
  • [2008-03-12 8:42]

Hi Gert,

I must admit I had never been interested in fungi before but your pictures have made me aware of them and I am developing an appreciation for them. I thank you for that. This fungus really does resemble an ear. The details and colors are so good I will recognize it if I ever come across one.

Jane

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