Auricularia americana

American Wood Ear

Auricularia americana Parmasto & I. Parmasto ex Audet, Boulet & Sirard (2003) is a wood ear of the A. auricula-judae complex that grows only on dead conifer wood (fir, spruce, hemlock, pine). Fruit bodies are brown, ear- or cup-shaped, gelatinous when moist and shrivelling when dry.

Species profile

Edibility

Edible

Edible, used like other wood ears; mild flavor, crunchy texture. Cook thoroughly.

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Habitat

Saprotroph on dead conifer logs and branches only (gymnosperm wood).

Distribution

North America; also China and the Russian Far East.

Characteristics

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Fruit body: 2-10 cm, ear- to cup-shaped, gelatinous-rubbery; outer surface finely hairy, tan to reddish-brown; inner surface smooth to veined. Spore print white; spores allantoid, about 14-16.5 x 4.5-5.5 um. Separation from A. auricula-judae (European) and from North American hardwood wood ears relies mostly on host (conifers only), geography and DNA.