Auricularia auricula-judae is a fungus, commonly known as Judas's Ear Fungus, Jew's Ear and Jelly Ear Fungus. The origin of the name was that Judas hanged himself on an elder tree.
Auricularia auricula-judae is normally found on dead elder trees and on elms. It is conspicuously ear shaped, with color ranging from purple to dark brown or black, and a rubbery texture. In Chinese, this species is known as wood ear or tree ear, kikurage in Japanese, and in Vietnamese it is often known as nam tai meo. This fungus is often used in Asian cooking.
Judas's Ear fungus is known to have medicinal properties, and herbalists use the mushroom as a poultice to treat inflammations of the eyes.
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