White Elfin Saddle - Tumblr Posts
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
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Hiyaa!:) That kind of looks like a White Elfin Saddle a.k.a. Helvella crispa with a somewhat whithered cap.
