The medieval Latin name auricula Judae (Judas's Ear) matches the vernacular name in most European languages (c.f. It is from the belief Judas Iscariot hanged himself on an elder tree that both the specific epithet auricula-judae and the common name Jew's ear originate. Judas se pend ( Judas Hangs Himself), by James Tissot. auricula, is Auricularia heimuer (black wood ear). The commercially cultivated Chinese and East Asian species, still frequently marketed and described as A. auricula-judae was originally described from Europe, the name is now restricted to the European species. Molecular research, based on cladistic analysis of DNA sequences, has, however, shown that Auricularia auricula-judae as previously understood comprises at least seven different species worldwide. The species was long thought to be somewhat variable in colour, habitat, and microscopic features but cosmopolitan in distribution, though Lowy considered it a temperate species and doubted that it occurred in the tropics. Despite this, Auricularia auricula-judae is the valid name for the species. Though critical of Lucien Marcus Underwood, saying he 'would probably not have known the Jew's ear from the calves' liver', he followed him in using Auricularia auricula, which was in turn used by American mycologist Bernard Lowy in his monograph on the genus. The name was criticised by American mycologist Curtis Gates Lloyd, who said ' Auricularia auricula-Judae is cumbersome and in addition is a slander on the Jews'. The specific epithet of A. auricula-judae comprises auricula, the Latin word meaning ear, and Judae, meaning of Judas. The species was given the name Auricularia auricula-judae in 1888 by Joseph Schröter. In so doing, Fries sanctioned the name, meaning that the species epithet ' auricula-judae' takes priority over Linnaeus's earlier ' auricula'. In 1822, Swedish mycologist Elias Magnus Fries accepted Bulliard's epithet and transferred the species to Exidia as Exidia auricula-judae. The species was first described as Tremella auricula by Carl Linnaeus in his 1753 Species Plantarum and later (1789) redescribed by Bulliard as Tremella auricula-judae. Īuricularia auricula-judae was used in folk medicine as recently as the 19th century for complaints including sore throats, sore eyes and jaundice, and as an astringent. auricula-judae' on broadleaf trees is Auricularia angiospermarum, with Auricularia americana on conifers. auricula-judae' of China and East Asia is Auricularia heimuer and, to a lesser extent, A.

It was formerly thought to be a variable species with a worldwide distribution, but molecular research, based on cladistic analysis of DNA sequences, has shown that non-European species are distinct. The fungus can be found throughout the year in Europe, where it normally grows on wood of broadleaf trees and shrubs. The specific epithet is derived from the belief that Judas Iscariot hanged himself from an elder tree the common name 'Judas's ear' was largely eclipsed by the corruption 'Jew's ear'. Basidiocarps (fruit bodies) are brown, gelatinous, and have a noticeably ear-like shape. ReidĪuricularia auricula-judae, which has the recommended English name jelly ear, also known as Judas’s ear or Jew’s ear, is a species of fungus in the order Auriculariales. 1943 Auricularia auricularis (Gray) G.W.1913 Auricularia lactea (Quél.) Bigeard & H.1860 Hirneola auricula-judae (Bull.) Berk.1791 Peziza auricula-judae (Bull.) Bull.

Auricularia auricula extract