Dissingia leucomelaena

Dissingia leucomelaena, commonly known as the white-footed elf cup,[1] is a species of fungus in the family Helvellaceae of the order Pezizales. As its common name implies, it is characterized by the white coloring of its stem.

Dissingia leucomelaena
Found in Tuolumne County, California
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Ascomycota
Class: Pezizomycetes
Order: Pezizales
Family: Helvellaceae
Genus: Dissingia
Species:
D. leucomelaena
Binomial name
Dissingia leucomelaena
(Pers.) (Pers.) K. Hansen & X.H. Wang
Synonyms

Paxina leucomelas (Pers.) Kuntze
Helvella leucomelaena (Pers.) Nannf.

Description

The deeply cup-shaped cap of the fruiting body is up to 3 centimetres (1+1⁄8 in) broad. The outer surface of the cap is blackish-brown near the top, with the color turning to white as it near the stem; the inner surface of the cup is blackish. The stem can be up to 4 cm (1+5⁄8 in) long by 0.5 cm (1⁄4 in) thick,[2] with ribs or folds extending onto the undersurface of the cap.[3]

Helvella acetabulum is a similar species, with more defined ribs.[3]

Distribution

In North America, this fungus is rare, but it has been collected in California, Alaska, and the Rocky Mountains.[2] It has also been found in South America[4] and Europe.[5] It typically grows in coniferous forests, and the white stipe may be hidden or obscured by leaves or may be partially buried in the soil. It can be found from spring to early summer.[3]

Edibility

Consumption of this fungus is not recommended as similar species in the family Helvellaceae contain the toxin gyromitrin.

References
  1. Tylutki EE (1979). Mushrooms of Idaho and the Pacific Northwest. Moscow: University Press of Idaho. p. 78. ISBN 0-89301-062-6.
  2. Orr, Dorothy B; Orr RT (1979). Mushrooms of Western North America. Berkeley: University of California Press. p. 32. ISBN 0-520-03656-5.
  3. Trudell, Steve; Ammirati, Joe (2009). Mushrooms of the Pacific Northwest. Timber Press Field Guides. Portland, OR: Timber Press. pp. 283–284. ISBN 978-0-88192-935-5.
  4. Dissing H. (1966). "The genus Helvella in Europe with special emphasis on the species found in Norden". Dansk Botanisk Arkiv. 25: 1–172.
  5. Calonge FD, Arroyo I (1990). "Notes on the genus Helvella in Spain". Mycotaxon. 39: 203–17.


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