Helvella lacunosa
BLACK ELFIN SADDLE
Order: Pezizales, Family Helvellaceae
HEAD FOLDED IN LOBES OR SOMETIMES SADDLE-SHAPED
Head: 4-7 cm tall and 3-5 cm tall; convoluted – irregularly lobed, or sometimes saddle-shaped; margin attached to stalk at some points, gray-black to black, brittle, thin flesh
STALK WITH DEEP FURROWS
Stalk: 3-10 cm long, 1-3 cm wide; deep ridges which cross to form cavities (lacunose); interior chambered; white to gray
SPORES
Spores: 15-20 x 11-13 µm, elliptic, smooth, one large central oil drop
Helvella lacunosa🍴Edible, but not recommended
FOUND ON GROUND AND IN LAWNS
LOOKALIKES
Gyromitra species
False Morel
Head also folded in lobes, not black
⚠️ Some are poisonous
Helvella crispa
Fluted Saddle
It is white
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This mushroom is eaten, especially in California, but be careful – it can be easily confused with the closely related false morels – the genus Gyromitra.
