Helvella lacunosa
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| Helvella lacunosa | ||||||||||||||||
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| Helvella lacunosa (Afzel.) |
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Helvella lacunosa, also known as the slate grey saddle or fluted black elfin saddle, is an ascomycete fungus of the Helvellaceae family. The mushroom is readily identified by its irregularly shaped grey cap, fluted stem, and fuzzy undersurfaces. It is found in western North America and in Europe, near deciduous and coniferous trees in summer and autumn.
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[edit] Taxonomy
The fungus was originally described by the naturalist Adam Afzelius in 1783. Its specific epithet is Latin adjective lacunosa 'with holes'. The generic name was originally a type of Italian herb but became associated with morels.[1]
[edit] Description
Helvella lacunosa has a irregularly folded or wrinkled cap which may be shades of slatey grey to black in colour, and measure anywhere from 1 to 10 cm (½-4 in), though usually between 2 and 5 cm (1-2 in). The wrinkled ringless 3-15 cm (1-6 in) high stem may be white when young and darker with age, though may be any shade of grey. The spore print is white, the oval spores average 12 x 9 μm.[2] Occasionally white capped forms are found. They may be distinguished from the creamy-white coloured Helvella crispa by the latter's furry cap undersurface and inrolled margins when young.[3]
[edit] Distribution and habitat
This species is common in western North America and is also found in Europe. It occurs under pine, oak and Douglas fir and nearby parkland and lawns. Fruiting bodies appear in late summer and autumn, though have been recorded in winter in California.[2] It often occurs on burnt ground.[4]
Some specimens have a white moldy appearance, having been colonised by Hypomyces cervinigenus.[2]
[edit] Edibility
This species is eaten and regarded highly by some after cooking, though the stems are not eaten.[2] Several guidebooks list it as edible,[5][4] yet this genus is now regarded with suspicion due to the presence of toxic compounds in several related species. It has been reported to cause gastrointestinal symptoms when eaten raw.[3]
[edit] References
- ^ Nilsson S, Persson O.(1977) Fungi of Northern Europe 1: Larger Fungi (Excluding Gill Fungi). pp. 36-37. Penguin Books. isbn 0-14-063-005-8
- ^ a b c d Arora, David (1986). Mushrooms demystified: a comprehensive guide to the fleshy fungi, 2nd ed., Berkeley: Ten Speed Press, pp. 815-16. ISBN 0-89815-169-4.
- ^ a b Ammirati, Joseph F.; James A Traquair and Paul A Horgen (1985). Poisonous mushrooms of the northern United States and Canada. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, p. 259. ISBN 0-8166-1407-5.
- ^ a b Phillips R (2006). Mushrooms. London: Pan Macmillan Ltd, p. 360. ISBN 0-330-44237-6.
- ^ Haas, Hans (1969). The Young Specialist looks at Fungi. Burke, p. 184. ISBN 0-222-79409-7.
