Jew’s Ear

The Jew’s Ear likes to grow on the common elder and on false acacia. Its very supple fruit-bodies are bone hard when dry, but become pliable again when moistened. Some related species which grow in Asia arc used in cooking. Tremella mesenterica is often found on the dead branches of deciduous trees, usually hornbeams and oaks.

When moist its folded, brain-like, contorted fruit-bodies become bright yellow in colour. Exidia Nana is even more common; it differs from other species of the Exidia genus by the presence of dark protrusions which are scattered over the surface of its blackish fruit- body. When dried out, it becomes narrow, black and shrivelled. Generally it grows on the cut surfaces of beech stumps and also on the branches and trunks of other trees lying on the ground. The Jew’s Ear is edible, but Tremella and Exidia are not.

These drops are best visible on young growths, which secrete large amounts of this liquid. This process takes place only in favourable damp weather conditons. The old dry fruit-bodies are hard, frail and almost black.

Inonotus hispidus is an annual fungus which attacks orchards with apple and occasionally pear trees, causing great damage. It prefers older trees as their central wooden column rots quickly. In the past a yellow dye has been produced from its fruit:- bodies, used for painting and silk dying. In favourable conditions this fungus grows very fast, reaching a large size and weight, which can amount to as much as 5 kg when fresh. It is inedible.

Polyporus squamosus semi-circular fruit-bodies are covered in brown apressed scales and its white, tough flesh, which is juicy when young, has a conspicuous cucumber-like, floury taste and scent. Polyporus squamosus is one of the few edible Polypores; mushroom-pickers consider its young fruit-bodies very tasty and pick them regularly. It is best used in soups. Old fruit-bodies are very tough and therefore not suitable for consumption. In size, shape and colouring P. squamosus varies considerably. It grows abundantly on the dead or living trunks or stumps of deciduous trees, especially of beech, willow, walnut, poplar, lime and ash. It also infests some decorative trees, such as the horse- chestnuts.

In the past a yellow dye has been produced from its fruit bodies, used for painting and silk dying. In favourable conditions this fungus grows very fast, reaching a large size and weight, which can amount to as much as 5 kg when fresh. It is inedible.

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