Helvella
Encyclopedia
Helvella is a genus of ascomycete fungus
of the Helvellaceae
family. The mushroom
s, commonly known as elfin saddles, are identified by their irregularly shaped caps, fluted stem
s, and fuzzy undersurfaces. They are found in North America and in Europe. Well known species include the whitish H. crispa
and the grey H. lacunosa
. They have been reported to cause gastrointestinal symptoms when eaten raw.
The generic name was originally a type of Italian herb but became associated with morels.
. The cup-like fruiting body (the apothecium) can assume a variety of forms: it may be shaped like an ear (auriculate), or a saddle; it may be convex or irregularly lobed and bent. The spore-bearing surface, the hymenium
, can be smooth, wavy or wrinkled and can range in color from white to black or various shades of gray or brown. Similarly, the outer surface of the fruiting bodies can be smooth, ribbed, or have minute hairlike projections (villi). The stem is cylindrical and tapering or grooved and ribbed. The flesh
is usually between 1–2 mm thick.
Fungus
A fungus is a member of a large group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds , as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a kingdom, Fungi, which is separate from plants, animals, and bacteria...
of the Helvellaceae
Helvellaceae
The Helvellaceae are a family of ascomycete fungi, the best known members of which are the elfin saddles of the genus Helvella. Originally erected by Elias Magnus Fries in 1823 as Elvellacei, it contained many genera...
family. The mushroom
Mushroom
A mushroom is the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus, typically produced above ground on soil or on its food source. The standard for the name "mushroom" is the cultivated white button mushroom, Agaricus bisporus; hence the word "mushroom" is most often applied to those fungi that...
s, commonly known as elfin saddles, are identified by their irregularly shaped caps, fluted stem
Plant stem
A stem is one of two main structural axes of a vascular plant. The stem is normally divided into nodes and internodes, the nodes hold buds which grow into one or more leaves, inflorescence , conifer cones, roots, other stems etc. The internodes distance one node from another...
s, and fuzzy undersurfaces. They are found in North America and in Europe. Well known species include the whitish H. crispa
Helvella crispa
Helvella crispa, also known as the white saddle, elfin saddle or common helvel, is an ascomycete fungus of the Helvellaceae family. The mushroom is readily identified by its irregularly shaped whitish cap, fluted stem, and fuzzy undersurfaces...
and the grey H. lacunosa
Helvella lacunosa
Helvella lacunosa, also known as the slate grey saddle or fluted black elfin saddle, is an ascomycete fungus of the Helvellaceae family. It is probably the most common Helvella species. The mushroom is readily identified by its irregularly shaped grey cap, fluted stem, and fuzzy undersurfaces...
. They have been reported to cause gastrointestinal symptoms when eaten raw.
The generic name was originally a type of Italian herb but became associated with morels.
Description
Species in Helvella have fruiting bodies (technically ascocarps) that grow above the ground, and usually have stemsStipe (mycology)
thumb|150px|right|Diagram of a [[basidiomycete]] stipe with an [[annulus |annulus]] and [[volva |volva]]In mycology a stipe refers to the stem or stalk-like feature supporting the cap of a mushroom. Like all tissues of the mushroom other than the hymenium, the stipe is composed of sterile hyphal...
. The cup-like fruiting body (the apothecium) can assume a variety of forms: it may be shaped like an ear (auriculate), or a saddle; it may be convex or irregularly lobed and bent. The spore-bearing surface, the hymenium
Hymenium
The hymenium is the tissue layer on the hymenophore of a fungal fruiting body where the cells develop into basidia or asci, which produce spores. In some species all of the cells of the hymenium develop into basidia or asci, while in others some cells develop into sterile cells called cystidia or...
, can be smooth, wavy or wrinkled and can range in color from white to black or various shades of gray or brown. Similarly, the outer surface of the fruiting bodies can be smooth, ribbed, or have minute hairlike projections (villi). The stem is cylindrical and tapering or grooved and ribbed. The flesh
Trama (mycology)
In mycology trama is a term for the inner, fleshy portion of a mushroom's basidiocarp, or fruit body. It is distinct from the outer layer of tissue, known as the pileipellis or cuticle, and from the spore-bearing tissue layer known as the hymenium....
is usually between 1–2 mm thick.
Species
- Helvella acetabulumHelvella acetabulumHelvella acetabulum is a species of fungi in the Helvellaceae family, Pezizales order. This relatively large cup-shaped fungus is characterized by a tan fruit body with prominent branching ribs resembling a cabbage leaf; for this reason it is commonly known as the cabbage leaf Helvella...
- Helvella albella
- Helvella albipes
- Helvella atraHelvella atraHelvella atra is a species of fungi in the Helvellaceae family, Pezizales order.-External links:*...
- Helvella confusa
- Helvella coriumHelvella coriumHelvella 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...
- Helvella costiferaHelvella costiferaHelvella costifera is a species of fungi in the Helvellaceae family, Pezizales order.-External links:*...
- Helvella crispaHelvella crispaHelvella crispa, also known as the white saddle, elfin saddle or common helvel, is an ascomycete fungus of the Helvellaceae family. The mushroom is readily identified by its irregularly shaped whitish cap, fluted stem, and fuzzy undersurfaces...
- Helvella cupuliformisHelvella cupuliformisHelvella cupuliformis is a species of fungi in the Helvellaceae family, Pezizales order, described in 1966.-Description:A variant has been described from China, H. cupuliformis var. crassa that has larger fruit bodies and wider spores ....
- Helvella dissingi
- Helvella elasticaHelvella elasticaHelvella elastica, commonly known as the flexible Helvella, or the elastic saddle, is a species of fungi in the Helvellaceae family, Pezizales order. It is found in Asia, Europe, and North America. It has a roughly saddle-shaped yellow-brown cap atop a whitish stem, and grows on soil in woods...
- Helvella engleriana
- Helvella ephippiumHelvella ephippiumHelvella ephippium is a species of fungi in the Helvellaceae family, Pezizales order.-External links:*...
- Helvella fibrosaHelvella fibrosaHelvella fibrosa is a species of fungi in the Helvellaceae family, Pezizales order. It was formerly known as Octospora villosa, originally described by Hedwig in 1789, and was placed in a number of different gerena throughout the decades, including Peziza, Fuckelina, and Cyathipodia. H. fibrosa...
- Helvella fusca
- Helvella juniperi
- Helvella lacunosaHelvella lacunosaHelvella lacunosa, also known as the slate grey saddle or fluted black elfin saddle, is an ascomycete fungus of the Helvellaceae family. It is probably the most common Helvella species. The mushroom is readily identified by its irregularly shaped grey cap, fluted stem, and fuzzy undersurfaces...
- Helvella latisporaHelvella latisporaHelvella latispora is a species of fungi in the Helvellaceae family, Pezizales order.-Edibility:Consumption of this fungus is not recommended as similar species in the Helvellaceae family contain the toxin gyromitrin.-External links:*...
- Helvella leucomelaenaHelvella leucomelaenaHelvella leucomelaena, commonly known as the "white-footed elf cup", is a species of fungi in the Helvellaceae family, Pezizales order. As its common name implies, it is characterized by the white coloring of its stem.-Description:...
- Helvella leucopus
- Helvella macropusHelvella macropusHelvella macropus is a species of fungus in the Helvellaceae family, Pezizales order.-External links:*...
- Helvella monachella
- Helvella pezizoides
- Helvella phlebophoraHelvella phlebophoraHelvella phlebophora is a species of fungi in the Helvellaceae family, Pezizales order.-External links:*...
- Helvella queletiiHelvella queletiiHelvella queletii is a species of fungi in the Helvellaceae family, Pezizales order....
- Helvella silvicolaHelvella silvicolaHelvella silvicola is a species of fungi in the Helvellaceae family, Pezizales order....
- Helvella solitariaHelvella solitariaHelvella solitaria is a species of fungi in the Helvellaceae family, Pezizales order.-Edibility:Consumption of this fungus is not recommended as similar species in the Helvellaceae family contain the toxin gyromitrin....
- Helvella terrestris
- Helvella zhongtiaoensis