Contents
Helvella curly, curly lobe or Helvella crispa is a mushroom of the Helwellaceae family. Rare, fruiting in autumn. The nutritional value is low, the species belongs to the last fourth group.
The blade has an unusual structure of the legs and hats
What do curly lobes look like
The mushroom is medium in size, grows up to 10-12 cm in height without a definite shape of the upper part. The species is marsupial, spores are formed not on the surface of the cap, but in the fruiting body.
External characteristic:
- Apothecia irregularly saddle-shaped, divided into several lobes.
- The upper part of young mushrooms with concave, relatively even edges, with time the cap straightens, becomes shapeless, the edges are hanging wavy or curly.
- The cap is loosely attached to the stem in the center, the surface is folded, finely tuberculate or wrinkled. The color is plain, light cream or beige. The protective film is smooth and matte.
- Lower part with fine sparse edging, one tone darker than the upper surface.
- The pulp is thin, fragile, light beige with a pleasant smell.
- The leg is often straight, can be curved in the upper part, fusiform, thickened at the base, 3 cm wide.
- The surface is ribbed with deep grooves, longitudinal stripes covering the underside of the cap.
- The color is white or light ash.
The structure of the stem is hollow, fibrous and brittle. In overripe specimens – tough.
The edges of the cap may be strongly raised or clearly concave.
Where do curly lobes grow
The species is uncommon, rare. In Our Country, the main accumulation is in the European part. It grows in open areas: forest clearings, clearings, near roads. The mushroom picker is located among low grass, coniferous or leaf litter. It occurs singly or in small groups from the end of August in all types of forests.
Is it possible to eat curly lobe
The species is rare and not fully understood, but many specimens contain muscarine in the fruiting body. The natural alkaloid is part of many poisonous mushrooms and causes varying degrees of intoxication. Partially decomposes upon drying or heat treatment.
Cases of poisoning with a curly lobe have not been registered due to its rarity, and besides, it is not consumed in large quantities. Fruiting bodies with low nutritional value are classified as a conditionally edible group. Use is possible only after boiling. In the autumn, other types of edible mushrooms bear fruit, so it is better not to take the blade.
False doubles
The false twins of Helwella curly include the elastic vane. The fungus is quite common. Fruits abundantly from mid-July. It occurs in all types of young and old forests, prefers well-moistened shaded areas. Belongs to the fourth category, conditionally edible. The fruiting body has no taste or smell.
The cap of the elastic lobe with smooth edges and a light brown surface
Collection rules
The main time for collecting the curly lobe is mid-September. It is not recommended to harvest in an ecologically unfavorable area: near chemical plants, gas stations, along highways, city dumps.
Conclusion
Curly lobe without taste and pronounced smell, is not of gastronomic interest. The species belongs to the conditionally edible category. Fruiting in autumn, consumption is possible only after boiling.
