ID Please? SE QLD

[karmamack]

Hi, can anyone tell me what these are? They are growing on a weeping fig tree in my garden, and I get a few of these on my property in the Gold Coast hinterland.

They are thin and soft, leathery and rubbery. Kinda like suede or even how a bat's wing feels.

Are they Woodear ? (I am a Noob)

 

 

[Anodyne]

Yes. Not amazingly tasty, but they have an interesting texture. They dry ok as well, but I prefer to use them fresh, cut into strips and dropped into miso soup or laksa like crunchy noodles.

[karmamack]

Great, thank you. I "thought" they were woodear ... but thrown off because isn't the top supposed to be the dark coloured side? These have a pale top and the underside is dark / brown. Or are they growing upside down?

[Anodyne]

There's a fair bit of variation in colour (from pale brown to almost black) and the surface will also start to look paler & greyish as it dries, so perhaps that accounts for the lighter tops? There's enough variation that some people even argue that Auricularia polytricha and Auricularia auricula-judae are the same species. Either way, both are edible, and it's definitely one of them, so you're all good.

[karmamack]

WOW! Look what happened to these mushrooms after a days rain! You were 100% right.

Then, I had a look on the other side of the tree, and it is absolutely smothered in them.

[Anodyne]

Hah cool, dried & rehydrated while still on the tree! Good little haul you've got there.