Helvella corium
| Helvella corium | |
|---|---|
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Ascomycota |
| Class: | Pezizomycetes |
| Order: | Pezizales |
| Family: | Helvellaceae |
| Genus: | Helvella |
| Species: | H. corium |
| Binomial name | |
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Helvella corium (O.Weberb.) Massee (1895) |
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| Synonyms | |
| Helvella corium | |
|---|---|
| Mycological characteristics | |
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smooth hymenium |
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cap is infundibuliform |
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hymenium attachment is not applicable |
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stipe is bare |
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ecology is mycorrhizal |
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edibility: inedible |
Helvella corium is a species of fungus in the family Helvellaceae (order Pezizales). This inedible cup-shaped fungus is black, and grows on the ground often near willows in deciduous or mixed forests. Although it has a fairly wide distribution, it is uncommon.
The black fruit body (technically called an apothecium) is cup-shaped, covered with either scales or small silk-like surface fibrils (fibrillose), and up to 5 centimetres (2.0 in) in diameter. The upper margin of the fruit body cup may be rounded with scalloped or lobed edges (crenate). The short, slender stipe (typically 0.6 to 1.8 centimetres (0.2 to 0.7 in) tall) is black on the upper part, but gray at the base; it is cylindrical and tapering (terete) with rounded ribs at its base. The odor and taste are not distinctive.
The spores are ellipsoid in shape, and measure 17–21 by 10–12 µm. They are hyaline (transclucent), and contain a single central oil drop (guttulate). The spore-bearing cells, the asci, are 225–250 by 12–17 µm.
Consumption of this fungus is not recommended as similar species in the Helvellaceae family contain the toxin gyromitrin.
Helvella corium has been collected from Asia, Europe, and North America. Fruit bodies grow solitary, scattered, or clustered in groups. It is often found in association with the trees Populus tremuloides or Thuja plicata, or with shrubs from genus Salix (such as Salix herbacea and Salix glauca), Shepherdia canadensis or shrubs from the genus Dryas. Jordan notes a preference for growing on sandy soils or in dunes.
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