This section is from the book "The Mushroom Book", by Nina L. Marshall. Also available from Amazon: Mushroom Book.
The genus Helvella contains twelve species. They all have lobed, irregular, or saddle-shaped caps, which are fleshy, and attached to the stem at the apex. They are contorted in such a way that no two of the species appear alike.
Helvella elastica
(See Plate Facing Page 140)
Cap - Brownish grey. Cup-shaped, flattening out when mature ; when young, the under surface is covered with little spines or hairs. Both surfaces are smooth when mature. Stem - Slender, of the same colour as the cap, tapering toward the cap. Solid and white within. Habitat - The specimen pictured was found growing beneath hemlocks and yellow birches, in Lake Placid forest, during
September.
De-lIsh-t-o'-sa An-gus'-ti-ceps Bl'-sp6r-a
Con'-i-ca Sem'-I-llb'-er-a E-las'-tic-a
Delicious Morel (Edible) (Morckella deliciosa, Fr.).
PolyPorus arcularius, (Batsch) Fries See page 112.
Helvella lacunosa (See Plate Facing Page 140)
Cap-Of one piece, thin and flexible like rubber cloth, folded to saddle the apex of the stem. The two saddle-flaps are attached on their margins at irregular intervals when young, and are puffed out like a balloon; but when mature, the pieces separate. Their outer surface is brownish grey, and their inner surface light grey, creased and folded.
Stem - Irregularly and deeply furrowed.
Flesh - Odour offensive.
Habitat - The specimen pictured was found growing imbedded in deep moss on old bark in the Lake Placid woods.
Lac-u-no'-Sct.
 
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