Elfin Saddle - Tumblr Posts
Black elfin saddle - Helvella lacunosa
Another post for the spooky season . . . the black elfin saddle's chambered stipe gives it a skeletal and a somewhat spooky appearance. It might be found in burnt or disturbed grounds.
Fruitbody
The cap is 2 to 4 centimetres across and about 4 to 10 centimetres high.¹ The saddle-shaped cap is irregularly lobed and convoluted, attached to the stipe in several places and has a black to dark brown colour.² It is the smooth outer surface of the cap that bears spores, while the inner surface is sterile.¹
The stipe is 1.5 to 4 centimeters long and 5 to 15 millimetres thick. It might have a whitish colour when young, but soon turns a gray to dark gray colour. The stipe is deeply and ornately ribbed and pocketed, the ribs are rounded, or sometimes sharp and double-edged.²
The flesh of the fruitbody is thin, brittle and chambered.²
Microscopic features
The asci (seen on the bottom left) are typically 340 μm long x 16 μm diameter, each ascus contains eight spores. The paraphyses are about 5 μm diameter, cylindrical¹ and hyaline.² Some paraphyses have capitata apices.¹
The spores (seen on the bottom right) are smooth², ellipsoidal, 15 - 19 x 10 - 13 μm and hyaline. The spore print is white.¹
Ecology
Black elfin saddles can typically be found among leaf litter in all types of woodland, they are often found on burnt ground or in otherwise disturbed woodland clearings.¹ The species is probably mycorrhizal, growing alone, scattered or gregariously.² Helvella lacunosa grows between summer and autumn.¹
Distribution
This species can be found throughout Britain and the throughout the mainland of Europe, it can also be found in North America.¹
Note: the links to the images are in the image discription.
References
1.
2.
Mutuals
@squidsandthings
@fungus-gnats
@fairy-tales-of-yesterday
@flamingears
@lameotello
@lovelyalicorn
@writingraccoon
@edukincon
@emmakapla
White elfin saddle - Helvella crispa
The white elfin saddle is visually the polar opposite twin of the black elfin saddle (discussed in this post), it has a ghost- and skeleton-like appearance.
Fruitbody
The cap is typically 3 to 8cm across and 1 to 4cm high. The saddle-shaped cap is irregularly lobed and has a cream to a pale ochre colour. The upper surface is smooth¹, while the underside is pale ochre and very finely fuzzy. The cap does not attach to the stem where they meet.²
The stipe is 2 to 4 centimetres in diameter and 4 to 8 centimetres long.¹ The stipe is robust, densely ribbed, chambered and have a white to pale yellow colour.²
The flesh of the white elfin saddle is very thin and brittle.²
Microscopic features
The asci (seen on the left below) are typically 300 x 18 μm. Each ascus contains eight spores.¹
The spores (seen on the right below) are ellipsoidal, 18-20 x 10-13 µm and hyaline. The spore print is white.¹
Ecology
Helvella crispa is probably mycorrhizal and can be found growing singularly or gregariously under broadleaf trees, particularly under beeches and oaks, and very often beside paths. It most often emerges from the ground but might also grow from humid hardwoods, meaning it.¹
This mushroom grows from the late summer into the autumn. Sometimes it appears in the winter in warmer regions.²
Distribution
This species can be found growing decidious woodlands in Britain and Ireland, the mainland of Europe and many parts of North America.¹
Note: the links to the images are in the image discription.
References
1.
2.
Mutuals
@squidsandthings
@fungus-gnats
@fairy-tales-of-yesterday
@flamingears
@lameotello
@lovelyalicorn
@writingraccoon
@edukincon
@emmakapla