Dissingia leucomelaena, commonly known as the white-footed elf cup,[1] is a species of fungus in the family Helvellaceae of the order Pezizales. As its common name implies, it is characterized by the white coloring of its stem.
| Dissingia leucomelaena | |
|---|---|
| |
| Found in Tuolumne County, California | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Ascomycota |
| Class: | Pezizomycetes |
| Order: | Pezizales |
| Family: | Helvellaceae |
| Genus: | Dissingia |
| Species: | D. leucomelaena
|
| Binomial name | |
| Dissingia leucomelaena (Pers.) (Pers.) K. Hansen & X.H. Wang
| |
| Synonyms | |
|
Paxina leucomelas (Pers.) Kuntze | |
Description
editThe deeply cup-shaped cap of the fruiting body is up to 3 centimetres (1+1⁄8 in) broad. The outer surface of the cap is blackish-brown near the top, with the color turning to white as it near the stem; the inner surface of the cup is blackish. The stem can be up to 4 cm (1+5⁄8 in) long by 0.5 cm (1⁄4 in) thick,[2] with ribs or folds extending onto the undersurface of the cap.[3]
Helvella acetabulum is a similar species, with more defined ribs.[3]
Distribution
editIn North America, this fungus is rare, but it has been collected in California, Alaska, and the Rocky Mountains.[2] It has also been found in South America[4] and Europe.[5] It typically grows in coniferous forests, and the white stipe may be hidden or obscured by leaves or may be partially buried in the soil. It can be found from spring to early summer.[3]
Edibility
editConsumption of this fungus is not recommended as similar species in the family Helvellaceae contain the toxin gyromitrin.
References
editDissingia leucomelaena | |
|---|---|
 | Smooth hymenium |
 | Hymenium attachment is irregular or not applicable |
 | Stipe is bare |
 | Spore print is white |
 | Ecology is saprotrophic |
 | Edibility is unknown |
- ^ Tylutki EE (1979). Mushrooms of Idaho and the Pacific Northwest. Moscow: University Press of Idaho. p. 78. ISBN 0-89301-062-6.
- ^ a b Orr, Dorothy B; Orr RT (1979). Mushrooms of Western North America. Berkeley: University of California Press. p. 32. ISBN 0-520-03656-5.
- ^ a b c Trudell, Steve; Ammirati, Joe (2009). Mushrooms of the Pacific Northwest. Timber Press Field Guides. Portland, OR: Timber Press. pp. 283–284. ISBN 978-0-88192-935-5.
- ^ Dissing H. (1966). "The genus Helvella in Europe with special emphasis on the species found in Norden". Dansk Botanisk Arkiv. 25: 1–172.
- ^ Calonge FD, Arroyo I (1990). "Notes on the genus Helvella in Spain". Mycotaxon. 39: 203–17.
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