Helvella lacunosa

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

by Michael Kuo

Here is a fairly umistakeable species, widely distributed but especially common on the West Coast. Its stem is ornately fluted, with cross-ribs and pockets, and its black cap is typically convoluted and attached to the stem in several places.

At first glance, Helvella lacunosa is likely to be mistaken for something dried-up and blackened, but close inspection reveals a fresh mushroom, quite beautiful in its ornateness and dark colors.

Helvella lacunosa is frequently parasitized by Hypomyces cervinigenus and by the gilled mushroom Clitocybe sclerotoidea.

Description:

Ecology: Officially saprobic, but I would guess that it has the potential to be mycorrhizal as well; growing in woods under hardwoods and conifers, and in disturbed ground (roadbanks, landscaping sites, and so on); summer and fall (winter and early spring in California); widely distributed in North America.

Cap: 1-10 cm; irregularly lobed and convoluted (occasionally saddle-shaped); black; the margin attached to the stem in several places; undersurface smooth.

Flesh: Thin; brittle; chambered.

Stem: 3-15 cm long; 1-3 cm thick; sometimes whitish when young, eventually grayish or black; deeply and ornately ribbed, with cross-ribs and pockets--the ribs sometimes sharp and double-edged.

Microscopic Features: Spores 15-21 x 11-14 µ; elliptical or nearly round; smooth or slightly rough; with one oil droplet.

Helvella mitra is a synonym.

REFERENCES: Afzelius (ex Fries, 1822). (Smith, 1949; Weber, 1972; Smith, Smith & Weber, 1981; Arora, 1986; States, 1990; Phillips, 1991/2005; Lincoff, 1992.) Herb. Kuo 07209402, FMP 02200310, 01150502, 02230501.

Further Online Information:

Helvella lacunosa at MykoWeb
Helvella lacunosa at Fungi of Poland

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Cite this page as:

Kuo, M. (2003, February). Helvella lacunosa. Retrieved from the MushroomExpert.Com Web site: http://www.mushroomexpert.com/helvella_lacunosa.html