Extract from Wikipedia article: Auricularia auricula-judae (Latin for 'Judas's Ear'), known as the Jew's ear, (black) wood ear, jelly ear or by a number of other common names, is a species of edible Auriculariales fungus found worldwide. The fruiting body is distinguished by its noticeably ear-like shape and brown colouration; it grows upon wood, especially elder. Its specific epithet is derived from the belief that Judas Iscariot hanged himself from an elder tree; the Latin Judae ('Judas's') was mistranslated into English as 'Jew's', leading to the term "Jew's ear", while today "jelly ear" and other names are sometimes used. The fungus can be found throughout the year in temperate regions worldwide, where it grows upon both dead and living wood.
Jew's ear mushroom (Auricularia auricula-judae complex) near Birch Creek Unit of Somerville Lake State Park. Texas, July 19, 2014 Lake Somerville Trailway, Somerville, TX 77879, USA
The Jelly Ear mushrooms (Auricularia angiospermarum, Auricularia auricula-judae complex) on Kiwanis Nature Trail. College Station, Texas, December 7, 2017 1106-1108 Ashburn Ave, College Station, TX 77840, USA
Woods Ear mushrooms (Auricularia angiospermarum, Auricularia auricula-judae complex) on a log on Kiwanis Nature Trail. College Station, Texas, December 7, 2017 1106-1108 Ashburn Ave, College Station, TX 77840, USA
Dry Jelly Ear mushrooms (Auricularia angiospermarum, Auricularia auricula-judae complex) on an oak in Hensel Park. College Station, Texas, December 31, 2017 4301-4499 College Ave, College Station, TX 77840, USA
Wood ear mushrooms Auricularia angiospermarum (Auricularia auricula-judae complex) in David E. Schob Nature Preserve at 906 Ashburn Street. College Station, Texas, February 25, 2018 906 Ashburn Ave, College Station, TX 77840, USA
Wood ear mushrooms Auricularia angiospermarum (Auricularia auricula-judae complex) on a tree in David E. Schob Nature Preserve at 906 Ashburn Street. College Station, Texas, February 25, 2018 906 Ashburn Ave, College Station, TX 77840, USA
Young caps of wood ear mushrooms Auricularia angiospermarum (Auricularia auricula-judae complex) in David E. Schob Nature Preserve at 906 Ashburn Street. College Station, Texas, February 25, 2018 906 Ashburn Ave, College Station, TX 77840, USA
Woods Ear mushrooms (Auricularia angiospermarum, Auricularia auricula-judae complex) on a log in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, March 19, 2018 Raccoon Run, College Station, TX 77845, USA
Woods Ear mushrooms (Auricularia angiospermarum, Auricularia auricula-judae complex) near Raccoon Run Trail in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, May 21, 2018 Raccoon Run, College Station, TX 77845, USA
Woods Ear mushrooms (Auricularia angiospermarum, Auricularia auricula-judae complex) on a big fallen oak in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, May 21, 2018 Raccoon Run, College Station, TX 77845, USA
Jew's ear mushroom (Auricularia auricula-judae complex) on a fallen oak on Lone Star Hiking Trail near Pole Creek in Sam Houston National Forest. Richards, Texas, March 1, 2019 Lone Star Hiking Trail, Montgomery, TX 77356, USA
Young Jew's ear mushrooms (Auricularia auricula-judae complex) on a fallen oak on Lone Star Hiking Trail near Pole Creek in Sam Houston National Forest. Richards, Texas, March 1, 2019 Lone Star Hiking Trail, Montgomery, TX 77356, USA
Translucent cap of Jew's ear mushroom (Auricularia auricula-judae complex) on Lone Star Hiking Trail near Pole Creek in Sam Houston National Forest. Richards, Texas, March 1, 2019 Lone Star Hiking Trail, Montgomery, TX 77356, USA
Close up of a cap of Jew's ear mushroom (Auricularia auricula-judae complex) on Lone Star Hiking Trail near Pole Creek in Sam Houston National Forest. Richards, Texas, March 1, 2019 Lone Star Hiking Trail, Montgomery, TX 77356, USA
Jelly Ear mushrooms (Auricularia angiospermarum, Auricularia auricula-judae complex) on Raccoon Run Trail in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, June 25, 2019 Raccoon Run, College Station, TX 77845, USA
Cluster of woods ear mushrooms (Auricularia angiospermarum, Auricularia auricula-judae complex) in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, January 7, 2020 14802 Rock Prairie Rd, College Station, TX 77845, USA
Woods ear mushrooms (Auricularia angiospermarum, Auricularia auricula-judae complex) with some brown crust fungus on a dry tree in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, January 7, 2020 14802 Rock Prairie Rd, College Station, TX 77845, USA
Wood ear mushrooms Auricularia angiospermarum (Auricularia auricula-judae complex) in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, January 15, 2020 Raccoon Run, College Station, TX 77845, USA
Wood ear mushrooms Auricularia angiospermarum (Auricularia auricula-judae complex) in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, February 13, 2020 14802 Rock Prairie Rd, College Station, TX 77845, USA
Wood ear mushrooms Auricularia angiospermarum (Auricularia auricula-judae complex) on a horizontally cut log in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, May 27, 2020 Raccoon Run, College Station, TX 77845, USA