Helvella corium | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Fungi |
Division: | Ascomycota |
Subdivision: | Pezizomycotina |
Class: | Pezizomycetes |
Order: | Pezizales |
Family: | Helvellaceae |
Genus: | Helvella |
Species: | H. corium |
Binomial name | |
Helvella corium (O. Weberb.) Massee |
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Synonyms | |
Cyathipodia corium (O. Weberd.) Boud. |
Helvella corium | |
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Mycological characteristics | |
smooth hymenium | |
cap is infundibuliform | |
hymenium attachment is not applicable | |
stipe is bare | |
ecology is mycorrhizal | |
edibility: inedible |
Helvella corium is a species of fungus in the Helvellaceae family, Pezizales order. This inedible cup-shaped fungus is black, and grows on the ground often near willows in deciduous or mixed forests. Although it has a fairly wide distribution, it is uncommon.[1]
Contents |
The black fruiting body (technically called an apothecium) is cup-shaped, covered with either scales or small silk-like surface fibrils (fibrillose), and up to 5 centimetres (2.0 in) in diameter. The upper margin of the fruiting body cup may be rounded with scalloped or lobed edges (crenate). The short, slender stem (typically 0.6 to 1.8 centimetres (0.2 to 0.7 in) tall)[2] is black on the upper part, but gray at the base; it is cylindrical and tapering (terete) and has rounded ribs at its base.[3] The odor and taste are not distinctive.[2]
The spores are ellipsoid in shape, hyaline (transclucent), and contain a single central oil drop (guttulate) with dimensions of 17–21 by 10–12 µm.[3] The spore-bearing cells, the asci, are 225–250 by 12–17 µm.[1]
Consumption of this fungus is not recommended as similar species in the Helvellaceae family contain the toxin gyromitrin.
H. corium has been collected from Asia,[4] Europe,[5] and North America.[1][6]
H. corium grows solitary, scattered, or clustered in groups. It is often found in association with the trees Populus tremuloides or Thuja plicata, or with shrubs from genus Salix (such as Salix herbacea and Salix glauca), Shepherdia canadensis or shrubs from the genus Dryas.[1] Jordan notes a preference for growing on sandy soils or in dunes.[2]
This mushroom appears to have a high tolerance for otherwise inhospitable growing conditions, as it has been found growing on caustic spoil mounds (the end-product of many mining and manufacturing operations) of a soda factory in Krakow, Poland,[7] as well as on abandoned uranium tailings in Ontario, Canada.[8]
Plectania nannfeldtii is a similar-looking fungus with a black-colored stalked cup, but this species has a longer stem, up to 5 centimetres (2.0 in); microscopically, it has larger spores (typically 23–28 by 11–14 µm).[9]