i 22 
M. J. Le Coc. 
FURTHER OBSERVATIONS ON HIRNEOLA AURICULA- 
JUDJE BERK. (“JEW’S EAR”). 
By M. J. Le Goc, B.A., 
Botany School, University of Cambridge. 
[With Nine Figures in the Text]. 
S INCE my preliminary observations on Hirneola auricula-judce 
were published (1) further observations have brought to light 
some new features in the biology of this fungus, while the details 
then described have been more carefully investigated by myself. 
Also Mr. Brooks has called my attention tof three additional papers 
on this fungus (10, 15, 16) which are specially interesting because 
they provide us with two different versions of many important 
phases in the life-history of the Jew’s Ear fungus. It is, therefore, 
with the hope of bringing forward some fuller information and of 
elucidating some controverted points that these further observa¬ 
tions, are now published. Fries refers to the Jew’s Ear fungus as 
“ antiquitus celebrato ” ; this celebrity of the fungus was due to its 
supposed medicinal properties, for on account of its fanciful resem¬ 
blance to the fauces, it was frequently used as a cure for sore-throat 
in the days when the external form of a plant was thought to he a 
sufficient guarantee for its therapeutic quality. According to 
Berkeley, it was occasionally sold at Covent Garden for such a 
purpose as late as 1857. 
The Jew’s Ear fungus received several different names : Trent- 
ella auricula judce (12), Exidia auricula judce (6, p. 221 ; 1, p. 355), 
Exidia auriformis, Auricularia samhucina (13, p. 459), etc., until 
Fries and Berkeley fixed the name Hirneola aurimla-judce (7, 8, 2). 
The last name though more generally accepted has found a rival in 
Auricularia auricula-judce used more especially by German writers 
(10, 15, 16). Hirneola is derived from “ hirnula,” a small jug; 
auricula (from auris, an ear (has been attached to it throughout its 
history on account of the ear-like form it often assumes (cf. Fig.l); 
while judce is said to refer to the host, the Elder tree, on which 
the legend represents Judas as having hanged himself. The popular 
name of “ Jew’s ear ” is a corruption of Judas’ ear. 
Brefeld (3), Moller (15, 16) and Holtermann (10) in their study 
of the biology of this fungus have confined their work to the germi¬ 
nation of the spores and the structure of the fructifications. 
