Black wood ear

Auricularia heimuer is a species of fungus in the order Auriculariales. It is commercially cultivated for food in China at a level exceeding $4 billion per year. The species was previously referred to as the European Auricularia auricula-judae, but the latter is not known to occur in east Asia. Auricularia heimuer is a popular ingredient in many Chinese dishes, such as hot and sour soup, and is also used in traditional Chinese medicine.