White Saddle (Helvella crispa)

The White Saddle (Helvella crispa) is one of the most unusual fungi in British woodland. Instead of a cap and gills, it has a crumpled, saddle-shaped head of cream to pale buff tissue perched on a white, deeply ribbed, hollow stem. It is an ascomycete, a relative of the morels and cup fungi, and its spores are produced on the upper surface of the saddle.

Look for it from late summer into winter on disturbed soil along woodland paths and ride edges, especially in damp broadleaf woods. The Elastic Saddle (Helvella elastica) has a smooth, unribbed stem, and the Elfin Saddle (Helvella lacunosa) is grey to black. Older books call it edible, but it is poisonous raw and may contain gyromitrin-type toxins, so it is not recommended.

Spore Print

Season

J

F

M

A

M

J

A

S

O

N

D

Native

toxic

Distribution

Widespread and common

Habitat

Occurs on rich, mostly disturbed soil usually on path sides in damp, deciduous woodland

Etymology

Helvella was a Latin name for a kind of pot-herb, later applied to these fungi. crispa is Latin for 'curled' or 'wrinkled', after the contorted saddle.

Fruiting Body

The fruiting body is 2-5 cm high, white to cream, with a saddle-shaped top that is lobed and curling, attached to a longitudinally grooved stem. The stem is deeply fluted and hollow, and the underside of the saddle is slightly downy.