Gyromitra infula (Schaeff.) Quél.
Family: Discinaceae
False Morel
Gyromitra infula image
National Mushroom Centre  
Mata, M., D. Penjor and S. Pradham. 2010. Fungi of Bhutan. National Mushroom Centre, Ministry of Agriculture and Forests, Thimphu, Bhutan.

Local name: No local name known

Edibility: Poisonous

Habitat: Terrestrial and solitary to gregarious.

Description: Fruiting bodies:  5-10 cm diameter, occasionally cup-shaped when young, saddle-shaped to tri-corner hat-shaped with even or occasionally wrinkled, Fertile surface: Yellow-brown to orange-brown to cinnamon-brown, with margin free or sometimes attached to stem, sometimes uplifted portions of margin are attached to each other. Stem: 2-9 cm long and 1-2 cm wide, equal or wider at base, surface pale pinkish-brown or sometimes developing a fine whitish over base or over entire surface with age sometimes compressed or slightly cleft. Flesh: Thin and brittle. Spore Print: Creamy white.

Comments: G. infula is characterized by uplifted, folded 2-3 times, more or less brown cap, with edges sometimes fused. Like Gyromitra esculenta it contains monomethylhydrazine (MMH) and should be avoided. Gyromitra infula is mostly likely to be confused with saddle-shaped species of Helvella with smooth stipes. e.g. Helvella compressa and H. elastica. These species can be separated by their greyer caps and pallid stipes. If in doubt, a spore examination will confirm identification, at least to genus. The spores of Gyromitras, including Gyromitra infula, have two oil droplets, while those of Helvellas have a single droplet.

 

Gyromitra infula image
Sabitra Pradhan  
Gyromitra infula image
Sabitra Pradhan  
Gyromitra infula image
Sabitra Pradhan