Helvella lacunosa Afzelius ex Fries
Systema mycologicum 2: 15. 1822.

Common Name: Black Elfin Saddle

• Pileus

  Head of the fruit body 4-7 cm high, 3-5 cm broad, convoluted and irregularly lobed, sometimes saddle-shaped; margin attached to stipe at several points; flesh thin, brittle; hymenium grey-black to black, sterile inside tissue grey to dark grey.

• Stipe

  Stipe 3-15 cm high, 1-3 cm broad, equal or tapered, deeply furrowed longitudinally, lacunose; chambered in cross-section; surface smooth, white to grey to dark grey.

• Spores

  Spores 12-21 x 12-14 µm, oblong-elliptic, smooth; hyaline; with a large central oil drop.

• Habitat

  Solitary to gregarious under trees, winter to early spring. In our area it is most common under pine.

• Edibility

  Edible when cooked.

• Comments

  A common mid-winter mushroom, Helvella lacunosa is variable in form and color, but its deeply furrowed stipe and dark, convoluted cap are distinctive.

• References

  Abbott, S.O. & Currah, R.S. (1997). The Helvellaceae: Systematic revision and occurrence in northern and northwestern North America. Mycotaxon 62: 1-125.
  Kempton, P.E. & Wells, V.L. (1970). Studies on the Fleshy Fungi of Alaska. IV. A Preliminary Account of the Genus Helvella. Mycologia 62(5): 940-959.
  Smith, A.H. (1949). Mushrooms in their Natural Habitats. Sawyer's Inc: Portland, OR. 626 p.
  Weber, N.S. (1972). The Genus Helvella in Michigan. Michigan Botanist 11: 147-201.

• Other Descriptions and Photos
  • Boleslaw Kuznik: Helvella lacunosa (CP) -- grey form
  • Taylor F. Lockwood: Helvella lacunosa (CP)
  • Taylor F. Lockwood: Helvella lacunosa (CP)
  • Taylor F. Lockwood: Helvella lacunosa (CP)
  • Fred Stevens: Helvella lacunosa (CP)
  • Fred Stevens: Helvella lacunosa (CP)
  • Fred Stevens: Helvella lacunosa (CP)
  • Fred Stevens: Helvella lacunosa (CP)
  • Nathan Wilson: Helvella lacunosa (CP)
  • Michael Wood: Helvella lacunosa (CP)
  • Michael Wood: Helvella lacunosa (CP)
  • Michael Wood: Helvella lacunosa (CP)
  • Robert Rich: Helvella lacunosa (CP)
  • Spotlight on Fungi: Helvella lacunosa (D & CP)
  • Die Pilze Pilze Galerie: Helvella lacunosa (CP)
  • Mushroom Observer: Helvella lacunosa (CP)
  • Arora (1986): p. 815 (D & P)
  • Arora (1991): p. 238 (D & CP)
  • Breitenbach & Kränzlin (vol. 1): sp. 16 (D, I, & CP)
  • Jordan: p. 53 (D & CP)
  • Lincoff: p.334 (D), plate 721 (CP)
  • McKenny et al.: p. 206 (D & CP)
  • Miller: sp. 397 (D & CP)
  • Phillips: p. 304 (D & CP)
  • Smith & Weber: sp. 11 (D & CP)
  
  

  (D=Description; I=Illustration; P=Photo; CP=Color Photo)