Description:
With their irregularly shaped saddles and pale stems, Helvella elastica fungi are commonly found at the edges of woodland footpaths. When properly cooked they are edible but hardly worth collecting.
Habitat:
Beside woodland paths, particularly in mixed woodland.
Cap:
The saddle-shaped caps of Helvella elastica generally have just two lobes and they are usually less contorted than the caps of most other fungi of the Helvella genus. The smooth outer surface of the cap bears the spores, while the infertile underside, illustrated here, is paler and felty.
Stem:
The long white stem is very rubbery and often appears to be twisted.
