This fungus is Auricularia auricula. It has several common names, like woods ear, jelly ear, cloud ear, etc. It has a rubbery texture. It is frequently used in Chinese food.
This is pokeweed as in poke salat, a cracker staple. It's also known as inkberry. During the Civil War, many letters to home were written with juice from these berries. Some of those letters are still legible today.
I was trying to photograph a plant next to an ant bed. I watched as a small ant near me ran to the entrance of the mound and disappeared down the hole. A moment later this soldier emerged and rapidly advanced to meet the intruder, me. I put my camera right on the ground to get the photo. A second later the ant was on the camera and was neutralizing the threat. I beat a hasty retreat.
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