Helvella lacunosa, the slate grey saddle, has an irregular, wrinkled grey to black cap on a pale to dark, deeply fluted and chambered stem. It grows in woodland litter, under pine, oak and Douglas-fir and often on burnt ground. In western North America most collections belong to two segregate species.
Not recommended. Some guides list it as edible after thorough cooking (stems discarded), but it has caused gastrointestinal illness when raw or undercooked and may contain small amounts of monomethylhydrazine. Helvella species are also viewed with suspicion as possible carcinogens. Edibility is disputed.
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Habitat
On the ground among leaf litter in all kinds of woodland, under pine, oak and Douglas-fir and in nearby parkland and lawns; often on burnt ground. Late summer and autumn; winter in California.
Distribution
Common in Europe and eastern North America; also reported from Asia (Sikkim, Japan, China). In western North America the European H. lacunosa is rare; collections there are mostly H. vespertina (with conifers) and H. dryophila (with oak).
Characteristics
Cap: usually 2-5 cm across (up to 10 cm); irregularly lobed and wrinkled; grey to black (white forms occur); margin can fuse with the stem; underside bald. Stem: 3-15 cm tall, 1-3 cm wide; deeply ribbed and wrinkled, chambered inside; pale when young, darkening with age; no ring. Spore print: white. Spores: about 15-21 x 10-14 µm, ellipsoid to oval, smooth, hyaline.
