Concerns have been raised about the use of this name on this site. I believe this is based on what is believed to be implied anti-semitism in the species epithet auricula-judae. However, as I understand it this is a misunderstanding of the facts of the matter. My understanding of this issue comes primarily from a recent article (spring 2008) in the journal Fungi (Vol. 1, No. 1, p. 13). To quote from that article: "The salient fact is this: Auricularia auricula (Hooker) Underwood, known in the 19th century as Hirneola auricula-judae (Fries) [sic], is also known as “Judas’s Ear” and “Jew’s Ear.” In fact, its former Latin species epithet auricula-judae literally means “ear of Judas.” It became known as “Judas’s Ear” by virtue of the fact that it grew on elder (Sambucus)…. Christian legend maintains that the cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified was made from the elder tree and, more significantly, that Judas Iscariot … hanged himself from an elder." The article goes on to discuss the racism and anti-semitism that pushed this name to become more and more associated with racist views of Jews. Thus the species epithet itself is not anti-semitic.

On the more technical side, there is the question of whether the ‘correct’ name for this taxon is A. auricula or A. auricula-judae. The above sited article as well as the popular website MushroomExpert.com favor A. auricula. However, other sites such as Index Fungorum and Wikipedia favor A. auricula-judae. Having not studied the question myself in detail, I have left both names as ‘valid’, but as synonyms since there is no question that these refer to the same taxon.