Helvella elastica

[ Ascomycetes > Pezizales > Helvellaceae > Helvella . . . ]

by Michael Kuo

Several species of Helvella have tan to grayish brown caps that are loosely saddle-shaped or "folded over," and stems that are smooth and whitish. The label Helvella elastica has been applied to many mushrooms meeting this general description; the "true" Helvella elastica is described below--followed by details on some of the similar species.

Description:

Ecology: Officially saprobic, but I would guess that it has the potential to be mycorrhizal as well; growing alone or gregariously under conifers or hardwoods, on the ground or, rarely, from rotting wood; fall; widely distributed in North America. "In Michigan it is frequently found along clear streams" (Weber, 1972).

Cap: 1-5 cm; folded over (with the "top" exposed) or loosely saddle-shaped; with convex lobes that sometimes fuse by maturity; upper surface tan to grayish brown; undersurface whitish, or at least paler than the upper surface, smooth, sometimes ingrown with stem where contact occurs; the young margin folding downward (see bottom illustration).

Flesh: Thin; brittle.

Stem: 2-6 cm long; to 1 cm thick; more or less even; cream color; smooth.

Microscopic Features: Spores 19.5-22.5 x 11.5-13.5 µ; elliptical; with one central oil droplet and up to 5 small droplets at each end.

REFERENCES: Fries, 1822. (Weber, 1972; Smith, Smith & Weber, 1981; Arora, 1986; Lincoff, 1992; Abbott & Currah, 1997; Evenson, 1997; Barron, 1999.) I have not collected this mushroom.

Helvella latispora and Helvella albella have undersurfaces that are finely hairy or downy (rather than smooth) when young, and cap margins that are curled upwards, at least when young.

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Cite this page as:

Kuo, M. (2005, January). Helvella elastica. Retrieved from the MushroomExpert.Com Web site: http://www.mushroomexpert.com/helvella_elastica.html