How does a Jew's Ear age?

[lipase]

Hello,

I've found lots of hard Jew's Ears around. If they are hard around this time of year (early March) does that mean they are fruit bodies from last year or could they be fruit bodies from this year that have already died and dried out?

I was wondering how long they last even as dead specimens as well i.e. How long can a dead Jew's Ear remain holding onto the wood it's grown from?

Cheers guys

[lipase]

It seems after reconstitution with water these bad boys have returned to being fresh looking Jew's Ears again!

[Michael Jordan]

Now you have your answer! The Jelly Fungi (Heterobasidiomycetes) are more or less unique among the Higher Fungi in that they can become shriveled and almost totally desiccated during 'adverse' weather conditions, but they have the remarkable ability to reconstitute and function normally again when the weather becomes damp. The same changes can be seen in other common 'Jelly' genera like Exidia and Tremella.

[lipase]

Originally Posted by Michael Jordan

Now you have your answer! The Jelly Fungi (Heterobasidiomycetes) are more or less unique among the Higher Fungi in that they can become shriveled and almost totally desiccated during 'adverse' weather conditions, but they have the remarkable ability to reconstitute and function normally again when the weather becomes damp. The same changes can be seen in other common 'Jelly' genera like Exidia and Tremella.

The transformation was incredible; they grew huge!