Helvella spadicea
Description
Helvella spadicea has a smooth white foot, the brownish-black tones of its hymenial surface, wavy margin and saddle shape. Although it bears fruit under broadleaves (holm oaks and oaks) and more rarely in coniferous forests, it lives preferably in riparian forests (poplar groves), roadsides, etc., on sandy soils.
Edible species, toxic when raw, its carpophores contain substances with hemolytic action (destruction of red blood cells) that lose their toxicity when cooked (thermolabile), quite appreciated in some places in the province, where they are commonly known as negritos.
It is usually eaten in an omelette, sautéed, or accompanied by rice.
It can be confused with Helvella lacunosa, which has protruding ribs on its foot.
Mushroom Identification
Cap
3-7 cm. in diameter, it is formed by two to four raised and triangular lobes, almost rounded on the sides and folded upwards in the shape of an irregular star to form a creped flower, they are all welded together in a single center, the inner part is white very characteristic in the undulations of the cap, the overflowing margin on the stem of a sooty black color, velvety with a white border.
Stem
2.5-4 × 1-2cm. slender, attenuated at the top, smooth, enlarged at the base, white with sooty shades, empty inside.
Flesh
Tender, thin, elastic, fragile, whitish in color, faint odor, mild flavor.
Spores
20-25 x 12-15 microns, ellipsoidal, smooth, guttulate.
Spore Print
White.
Habitat
Grows sporadically in gardens, parks, along the paths, especially under poplars, and sandy places. Never single but in groups with several specimens, it often goes unnoticed hidden in the grass.
Photo sources:
Photo 1 - Author: Kjell Nilsen (CC-BY-NC-ND)
Photo 2 - Author: Koert Scholten (CC-BY-NC-ND)