Wood ear bursting free.  Auricularia auricula is edible. I occasionally harvest and dry young pristine specimens. I add thin strips to soups for texture. If you’ve eaten “hot and sour” soup chances are you’ve consumed a very similar fungus, Auricularia polytricha (not pictured), common in Chinese medicine and cuisine. Follow this link for an image of the Chinese variety. 

Too cute and cozy looking, I only captured their portrait. Near Jefferson County MO, May 2020