Brown Ear - Otidea cochleata

Cup like, 3 to 6cm across with very short stem, split down one side, inner surface yellow brown to dark brown, outer surface slightly rough, concolorous with inner surface or paler, slightly scurfy.

Otidea bufonis is similar but is dark purplish brown inside and dark brown outside, whereas O. cochleata is dark brownish
inside and yellow-brown outside.

Grows on the ground, often in woodland.

Autumn.

Often found in clumps.

Widespread but not common in Britain.

Rare in Leicestershire and Rutland. The Gilroes Cemetery record of 12th October 2012 is the first for VC55.