Helvella elastica

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***Helvella elastica***, commonly known as the **flexible Helvella**, or the **elastic saddle**, is a species of fungi in the Helvellaceae family, Pezizales order. It is found in Asia, Europe, and North America. It has a roughly saddle-shaped yellow-brown cap atop a whitish stipe, and grows on soil in woods. Another colloquial name is the **brown elfin saddle**.

## Description

The fruit body of the fungus is grayish or olive-brown, saddle- or mitral-shaped (i.e., resembling a double mitre) and is attached only to the top of the stipe; it may be up to Template:Convert wide. The stipe is white, solid or filled with loosely stuffed hyphae, has a smooth surface, and is up to Template:Convert long by Template:Convert thick. The flesh of *H. elastica* is brittle and thin. The odor and taste of this mushroom are not distinctive.

### Microscopic characteristics

The spores are oblong to elliptical in shape, translucent (hyaline), contain one central oil drop (*guttulate*), 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 (sterile cells interspersed between the asci) are club-shaped, filled with oil drops, sometimes branched, and are 6–10 µm at the apex.

### Edibility

Consumption of this fungus is not recommended as similar species in the Helvellaceae family contain the toxin gyromitrin.

## Habitat and 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 (in "western states and provinces"), Japan, and China.

## Similar species

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*.

## Fibrinolytic activity

A 2005 Korean study investigated the ability of extracts from 67 different mushroom species to perform fibrinolysis, the process of breaking down blood clots caused by the protein fibrin. *H. elastica* was one of seven species that had this ability; the activity of the extract was 60% of that of plasmin, the positive control used in the experiment.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `Tylutki 1979`
2. ↑ Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `urlRogers Mushrooms`
3. ↑ Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `Arora 1986`
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `Jordan 2004`
5. ↑ Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `Horgen 1985`
6. ↑ Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `McKnight 1987`
7. ↑ Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `Orr 1979`
8. ↑ Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `Nagao 2002`
9. ↑ Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `Zhuang 2004`
10. ↑ Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `urlHelvella elastica (MushroomExpert.Com)`
11. ↑ Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `Kim 2005`

## External links

* Template:IndexFungorum

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