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The pitted lobe is a rare marsupial mushroom of the Helwellaceae family, genus Helvella. Has an unusual appearance. Another name is Helvella grooved. The spores are found in a “bag” in the fruiting body.
What do pitted lobes look like?
The mushroom consists of a stem and a cap, as if folded in half or crushed. Because of this, it takes on an irregular or saddle-shaped shape, forming something like horns. It is two- or three-bladed, size - from 2 to 4 cm in width, from 1 to 5 cm in length. The edge is freely located, sometimes adheres to the stem, in old specimens it is torn. The upper surface is smooth or slightly wrinkled, gray to black in color, the lower surface is lighter, usually grayish.
The length of the leg is up to 6 cm, thickness is from 1 to 1.5 cm. It is often curved, widening downward, folded, ribbed, usually gray in color, becoming darker with age.
Spores are smooth-walled, elliptical, colorless or white, with oily droplets. Size – 15-17 X 8-12 microns.
The pulp of the pitted lobe is thin, very fragile, grayish in color, with a not pronounced mushroom odor.
Helvella pitta is unattractive to mushroom pickers due to its appearance
Where do pitted lobes grow?
It grows in deciduous forests next to birch trees, less often in coniferous plantations. Possibly forms mycorrhiza with birch. Found in small groups or singly, often in fairly open areas. Settles on moist and alkaline soils and litter, loves old fireplaces and forest fires. Distributed throughout Eurasia, but found infrequently. Fruits in summer and autumn.
Is it possible to eat pitted lobes?
Refers to conditionally edible.
False doubles
Long-legged lobster. An inedible mushroom with a goblet or saddle-shaped cap, flattened on the sides. The outer surface is pimply, gray or with a purple tint. The inside is lighter, white-beige. The stem can be smooth or lumpy, narrower at the top, the color is the same as the inner surface of the cap. The pulp is odorless and tasteless, thin, watery. Fruits from June to early October. Prefers moist forests, can settle on mosses and rotted remains of wood, and grows in groups.
Helvella long-legged is easy to distinguish by the shape of the cap and the color of the fruiting body
Curly lobe. A not very common conditionally edible mushroom of the Helwellaceae family with low taste. Some sources suggest that it is inedible. The main difference from pitted is the lighter color. The cap is irregularly shaped and consists of 2-4 blades. The edges are curly or wavy, hanging freely or in some places growing to the stem. Color ranges from white and waxy beige to yellow and light ocher. The leg is straight or curved, short, swollen at the base, hollow. Surface with deep folds or grooves. The color is whitish or ash-gray. The pulp is fragile, thin, waxy-white, with a pleasant mushroom aroma. Fruits from early August to October.
Helvella curly differs from pitted one in white color
White-legged lobster. A conditionally edible species with a saddle-shaped or curved cap consisting of three or more lobes. The surface is grayish-brownish or blackish, smooth, sometimes with lighter spots. You can see fibers on the underside. The leg is hollow, white, widened at the base or flattened, smooth, without grooves; in the old specimen it is dirty yellow or smoky brown. The pulp is fragile, thin, taste and smell are unexpressed. Grows in groups, in coniferous and deciduous forests, on sandy soils. Fruits from May to October. Some sources contain information about toxicity in its raw form and the need for long-term heat treatment.
Helvella white-legged has a smooth white stalk without grooves.
Collection rules
When collecting, it is recommended not to pull out the mushroom, but to carefully unscrew the stem so as not to damage the mycelium. Only the caps can be cut off.
Use
It is rarely eaten due to its strange appearance.In addition, its taste is low. This mushroom can be eaten only after thorough soaking (for 24 hours), washing and boiling. Only after this can you start preparing the mushroom, making sure to drain the broth. The pitted lobster can be fried.
Conclusion
The pitted lobe has an unattractive appearance, so it is practically not used as food and is of no value to mushroom pickers. From a distance, Helvella furrow resembles a burnt piece of wood left after a fire. It is completely unappetizing and there is no desire to pick it.
