Red Fungi

[Upaboveclimber]

Saw this yesterday, and I have know idea what it is?

 

[KTSmith]

That's likely a woodear fungus, genus Auricularia. It's a jelly fungus. More technically, it's a heterobasidomycete. It doesn't cause disease as such, but does decay wood very slightly. Certainly, there is a patch or more of dead wood beneath the fungus.
Don't try this at home, particularly without an expert identification, but woodears are often the mushroom in Chinese hot-and-sour soup.

 

[KyLimbwalker]

[ QUOTE ]

Don't try this at home, particularly without an expert identification, but woodears are often the mushroom in Chinese hot-and-sour soup.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is what I fed my in-laws the first time I met them! I love wood-ears.

 

[Upaboveclimber]

Thanks for the ID, I do remember the fungi being jelly like. This tree was located along Seneca Creek.

 

[TC]

I've heard of that particular fungi being called 'Jew's Ear', not very pc is it?