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EDIBLE AND POISONOUS MUSHROOMS OF CANADA
PHLOGIOTIS HELVELLOIDES (Fr.) Martin
Figure 367, page 255
FRUITING BODIES 2-4 in. high, U/2-2i4 in. in diameter, gelatinous but
rather firm, drying horny, more or less funnel-shaped, usually split on one
side, pinkish white to deep rose, substipitate, spores oblong. 10-12 X 4-6 m-
On the ground under conifers or on rotten coniferous wood. Aug.-Oct.
This is not regarded as an edible species but is an attractive and striking
fungus. It has been known under the name Gyrocephalus rufus (Jacq.) Bref.
AURICULARIA AURICULA (Hook.) Underw. Edible
Figure 368, page 255
FRUITING BODY about %-3i/2 in. broad, sessile, somewhat cupulate or ear-
shaped, irregular, smooth or wrinkled, tough-gelatinous, yellow-brown to
cinnamon-brown, drying horny and nearly black, attached centrally or lat-
erally, spores white in mass, allantoid, 12-16 X 4-6 /x-
Gregarious or cespitose on dead wood or sometimes exposed wood of
living trees. July-Oct.
As the name indicates, this fungus is somewhat suggestive of a human ear.
It has become involved in an ancient legend to the effect that Judas Iscariot
hanged himself on an elder tree and the elder was thereupon condemned to
bear this excrescence, which was known as Judas' ear and later corrupted to
Jew's ear. Apparently the fungus occurs rather commonly on the elder in
Europe but no doubt it did so for many centuries before the time of Judas
Iscariot. It is not clear why Judas' ear should have been singled out to com-
memorate his evil deed but there may be some confusion here with the ear of
the servant of the high priest, which was cut off by Peter at the time of the
betrayal.
DACRYMYCES PALMATUS (Schw.) Bres.
Figure 369, page 255
FRUITING BODIES bright Orange to orange-red, tough-gelatinous, becoming
softer in age, forming irregular clusters, often wrinkled and convoluted, some-
times up to 2 in. across, usually smaller, sometimes with a whitish, stipe-hke
base, spores orange, cyhndrical, curved, becoming seven-septate, 17-25 X
6—8 11.
On coniferous wood. May-Nov.
The bright orange fructifications are very conspicuous when moist but
on drying they shrivel to an inconspicuous, reddish orange, horny mass. This
is probably one of the fungi that have been called 'witches' butter' or *fairy
butter.' It is not regarded as an edible fungus.
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