Appearance
The fruit body of the fungus is grayish or olive-brown, saddle- or mitral-shaped and is attached only to the top of the stipe; it may be up to 3 centimetres wide. The stipe is white, solid or filled with loosely stuffed hyphae, has a smooth surface, and is up to 8 centimetres long by 1 centimetre thick. The flesh of ''H. elastica'' is brittle and thin. The odor and taste of this mushroom are not distinctive.The spores are oblong to elliptical in shape, translucent , contain one central oil drop , and have dimensions of 18–22 by 10–14 µm; young spores have coarse surface warts, while older ones are smooth. The spore-bearing cells, the asci, are 260 by 17–19 µm. The paraphyses are club-shaped, filled with oil drops, sometimes branched, and are 6–10 µm at the apex.
Naming
The closely related fungus ''Helvella albipes'' has a thicker stipe and a two- to four-lobed cap. Another similar species, ''H. latispora'', has cap edges that are curled upward, rather than inward as in ''H. elastica''.
Distribution
This fungus is typically found fruiting singly, scattered, or clustered together on the ground or on wood in coniferous and deciduous woods. It has been found in Europe, North America , Japan, and China.
Habitat
This fungus is typically found fruiting singly, scattered, or clustered together on the ground or on wood in coniferous and deciduous woods. It has been found in Europe, North America , Japan, and China.References:
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