Helvella leucomelaena    (Pers.) Nannf. 

common name(s) : Sooty Cup, Two-tone Brain Fungus 

New classification: Ascomycota/Pezizomycotina/Pezizomycetes/Pezizomycetidae/Pezizales/Helvellaceae  
Former classification: Ascomycota/Hymenoascomycetes/Pezizomycetideae/Pezizales/Pezizineae/Helvellaceae  

synonyms: Paxina leucomelaena, Paxina leucomelas, Acetabula leucomelas 
(unconfirmed synonyms: Acetabula vulgaris ss.auct., Helvella leucomelas)  

edibility : discard

potential confusions with  Helvella leucomelaena toxicity of Helvella leucomelaena genus Helvella  

The cap is deeply cup-shaped, with a grey-brown to brown-black internal surface, the external being pale grey to buff, with a well differentiated stem, but more or less distinct, ridged, buried in the soil, with prominent veins.

The fertile surface is smooth.

It grows on the ground, in coniferous or broad-leaved woods, on a rather calcareous soil, with spruce, pine.

The fruiting period takes place from April to September.
Dimensions: width of cap approximately 4 cm (between 2 and 10 cm)
  total height approximately 3 cm (between 0.5 and 5.5 cm)
  width of stem approximately 13 mm (between 10 and 15 mm)

Distinctive features : sorry, no English description yet

Helvella leucomelaena is rare and confined in the forest of Rambouillet, and is infrequent, more generally speaking .
here should be the distribution map of Helvella leucomelaena in the forest of Rambouillet
Above : distribution map of Helvella leucomelaena in the forest of Rambouillet



page updated on 14/01/18