Species map · Auricularia auricula-judae
Wood ear mushroom map of Turkey: where and when it grows
Our map holds 66 verified records of the wood ear mushroom (Auricularia auricula-judae) from 7 provinces of Turkey. Most come from İstanbul, Manisa, Samsun and Kırklareli; records peak in January, February and May.
- records
- 66
- provinces
- 7
- regions
- 3
- latest record
- Oct 2026
Records by province
- Marmara 56
- Aegean 6
- Black Sea 4
Linked provinces have their own page with every species recorded there. Record density also reflects where observers work.
Which months?
This page covers only where and when the species is recorded in Turkey. For identification and edibility, see the species page. Built from research-grade, geo-referenced GBIF and iNaturalist records, refreshed at the start of every month.
Poisonous look-alikes of the wood ear mushroom
- Cup fungi Peziza spp. Poisonous
Records by region: Marmara 56; Aegean 6; Black Sea 4. Most records come from İstanbul, Manisa, Samsun, Kırklareli, İzmir, Karabük and Muğla.
Records peak in January, February and May; about 19% of dated records fall in September–November and 31% in March–May.
The wood ear can be found all year, but it is most common in cool, damp months from autumn to spring. In Turkey, GBIF records cluster in January, February and May.
The wood ear grows singly or in clusters on dead or weakened branches and trunks of broadleaf trees, above all elder (Sambucus nigra), and also on beech, sycamore and ash.
Cup fungi (Peziza spp., poisonous): Mostly on soil, brittle rather than rubbery; some cause illness when eaten raw or undercooked.
Tripe fungus (Auricularia mesenterica, inedible): Grows in shelves with a distinctly hairy, grey-brown zoned upper surface; tough and tasteless.
Black witches' butter (Exidia glandulosa, inedible): Forms black, brain-like jelly blobs with no ear shape.
Frequently asked questions
Where does the wood ear mushroom grow in Turkey?
Most records come from İstanbul, Manisa, Samsun, Kırklareli and İzmir.
When does the wood ear mushroom fruit in Turkey?
Records peak in January, February and May.
Which province has the most wood ear mushroom records?
İstanbul, followed by Manisa, Samsun and Kırklareli. The order also reflects where observers are active.
What habitat does the wood ear mushroom prefer?
The wood ear grows singly or in clusters on dead or weakened branches and trunks of broadleaf trees, above all elder (Sambucus nigra), and also on beech, sycamore and ash.
Can I pick mushrooms where they are recorded?
A record is not a permit. Commercial picking in state forests needs a permit; picking in national parks is prohibited.
How current is this map?
Records are re-fetched from GBIF and iNaturalist at the start of every month and this page updates automatically.
What should I do in case of mushroom poisoning?
Call 112 at once; Turkey's poison centre is 114.
Sources
- 6831 sayılı Orman Kanunu (mevzuat.gov.tr) mevzuat.gov.tr
- 2873 sayılı Millî Parklar Kanunu, md. 14 (mevzuat.gov.tr) mevzuat.gov.tr
- MedlinePlus: Dış kulak iltihabı (kulakta mantar enfeksiyonu dahil) medlineplus.gov
All sources (6)
- GBIF ve iNaturalist: Türkiye gözlem kayıtları (sitemizin haritası) gbif.org
- Wikipedia (EN): Auricularia auricula-judae en.wikipedia.org
- First Nature: Auricularia auricula-judae first-nature.com
Data sources and licences
Observations from GBIF.org (human observations and herbarium specimens; records flagged with geospatial issues excluded) and iNaturalist research-grade records, retrieved 2 November 2026. Macrofungi only (Agaricomycetes, Pezizomycetes), named to species. Every point links to its own record, with the recorder and licence (CC0, CC BY, CC BY-NC).
Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors. Province centres: Wikidata. Region comes from the record's GADM province, or the nearest province centre when missing. For protected species (iNaturalist "threatened" or IUCN VU/EN/CR) locations are rounded to ~10 km; locations obscured by iNaturalist are marked "approximate".
An observation shows that a mushroom was seen there on that day, not that it is there now or that it may be picked. Counts reflect how many people record fungi in an area more than how common a species is.
Last updated: Prepared by the Poros Mantar editorial teamReport a correction