Helvella compressa

Helvella compressa
Baja California, Mexico, 2019
Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve, 2017
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Ascomycota
Class: Pezizomycetes
Order: Pezizales
Family: Helvellaceae
Genus: Helvella
Species:
H. compressa
Binomial name
Helvella compressa
(Snyder) N.S.Weber (1975)
Synonyms[1]
  • Paxina compressa Synder (1936)

Helvella compressa, also known as the compressed elfin saddle, is a species of ascomycete "sac fungus" related to the Peziza cups. Helvella compressa is endemic to North America west of the Rocky Mountains.[2]: 49  According to David Arora, H. compressa "seems to be the most common" of the non-fluted Helvellas found in California.[3] Helvella compressa is possibly also present in China and Tibet.[4]: 148 

The distinctive fruiting body looks roughly like a fortune cookie on a stick and can only be confused with Helvella albella, which is rarer, and has a darker brown cap and a smooth underside (rather than H. compressa's "faintly" fuzzy underside) and H. elastica, which is smaller, with "rounder lobes".[5] H. compressa can be distinguished from Helvella atra by its coloration.[3]

Helvella compressa is genetically closely related to H. stevensii, H. corbierei,[4]: 114  and H. levis (synonym of Helvella latispora).[4]: 149  H. levis is more common in Europe and the Danish call it Bredsporet foldhat ("wide-brimmed hat").[2][6] Helvella stevensii is smaller and paler than H. compressa.[3]

See also

References

  1. ^ "GSD Species Synonymy. Current Name: Helvella compressa (Snyder) N.S. Weber, Beih. Nova Hedwigia 51: 35 (1975)". Species Fungorum. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  2. ^ a b Abbott, Sean P.; Currah, R. S. (April–May 1997). "The Helvellaceae: Systematic revision and occurrence in northern and northwestern North America". Mycotaxon. LXII: 1–125. doi:10.7939/R3TD9NG3F.
  3. ^ a b c Arora, David (1986). Mushrooms Demystified: A Comprehensive Guide to the Fleshy Fungi (2nd ed.). Berkeley: Ten Speed Press. pp. 811–812. ISBN 978-0-89815-169-5. LCCN 86005917. OCLC 13702933.
  4. ^ a b c Mao, N.; Xu, Y.Y.; Zhang, Y.X.; Huang, X.B.; Hou, C.L.; Fan, L. (2023-12-15). "Phylogeny and species diversity of the genus Helvella with emphasis on eighteen new species from China". Fungal Systematics and Evolution. 12 (1): 111–152. doi:10.3114/fuse.2023.12.08. ISSN 2589-3823. PMC 10964050.
  5. ^ Siegel, Noah; Schwarz, Christian (2016). Mushrooms of the Redwood Coast: A Comprehensive Guide to the Fungi of Coastal Northern California. Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed. p. 556. ISBN 9781607748182. LCCN 2015027853. OCLC 956478776.
  6. ^ "Bredsporet foldhat (Helvella levis)". Danmarks Svampeatlas. Retrieved 2024-03-16.
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