Found this beautiful Jelly ear fungus here in the dale this week. Also known as Judas’s ear fungus, Auricularia auricula-judae and commonly found on the elder tree. The story goes that Judas, the apostle who betrayed Jesus hanged himself on an elder tree. It resembles the human ear and is rubbery in texture. It ranges from purple to brown through to almost black as it ages. Updale Natural History Recorder

Jelly ear fungus, Auricularia auricula-judae