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The white-legged lobe has a second name - the white-legged lobe. In Latin it is called Helvella spadicea. It is a member of the small Helwell genus, the Helwell family. The name "white-legged" is explained by an important feature of the mushroom: its stem is always painted white. It does not change with age.
What do white-legged lobes look like?
The mushroom is a typical representative of the lobes with a bizarre cap. It gives fruiting bodies a resemblance to cocked hats, saddles, hearts, mouse faces and other objects and figures. Sometimes the caps are randomly curved. They are small in size but rather tall. Their diameter and height are from 3 to 7 cm.
The hats have 2-3 or more saddle-shaped petals of various shapes. The maximum number is 5. They resemble blades, hence the name of the genus. The lower edges of the petals are almost always even in young mushrooms, attached to the stem. The upper surface of the cap is smooth, colored in brown shades, closer to dark brown or even black. Some specimens have spots of lighter shades. The lower surface is slightly fleecy, its color is white or light brown, beige.
The pulp is brittle, thin, grayish. Does not have a pronounced mushroom aroma and taste.
The length of the leg is from 4 to 12 cm, the thickness is from 0.5 to 2 cm. It is flat, classical cylindrical, sometimes wider at the base, often flattened. The leg is not corrugated or ribbed. In cross section, it is hollow or with small holes near the base. The color is white, some specimens may have a slight brownish tint. In old mushrooms, the leg is dirty, which makes it seem yellowed. The pulp in it is quite dense.
Helwella white-legged belongs to the section of marsupial mushrooms. Her spores are in the "bag", in the very heart of the body. Their surface is smooth. The color of the spore powder is white.
Where the white-legged lobster grow
This species belongs to the rare representatives of the Gelwell family. Its distribution area is limited to the territory of Europe. In Russia, it can be found from the western borders to the Urals.
Mushrooms can grow singly or in small groups. The most favorable conditions for them are sandy soils. Mushroom pickers most often find white-legged lobster in coniferous or mixed forests, on soil or in grass.
The fruiting period begins in late spring, from May. Lasts until the end of September - mid-October.
Is it possible to eat white-legged lobes
There are no edible species among the representatives of the Helwella genus. White-legged lobe is no exception. There are different opinions about the possibility of its use as a food product. Some experts classify it as a conditionally edible mushroom, others as inedible.
False doubles
The white-legged lobe has an external resemblance to other representatives of its genus.The main difference by which you can recognize it is the color of the leg. It always remains white.
One of the similar varieties is Helvella pitted, or Helvella sulcata. To identify this species, you should pay attention to the stem of the mushroom. It has a pronounced ribbed surface.
Another counterpart of Helvella spadicea is the Black Lobster, or Helvella atra. Its distinguishing feature, which helps to distinguish between species, is the color of the leg. In Helvella atra, it is dark gray or black.
Collection rules
It is not recommended to collect the white-legged lobe or any species similar to them. Moreover, they are deprived of nutritional value. You cannot collect and consume them in large quantities, even heat treatment in this case may not save you from poisoning. Therefore, experienced mushroom pickers advise you to play it safe and not put the Helwells in the basket.
Use
In our country, there have been no cases of poisoning by them. However, there is evidence that in Europe there are victims of eating white-legged lobster.
If you still want to cook these mushrooms, then you must remember that you cannot eat them raw. This causes poisoning. Blades become edible only after prolonged heat treatment. Boil them for at least 20-30 minutes. In traditional cuisines of some peoples, Helwella, which has undergone the necessary processing, can be added to dishes.
Conclusion
Although the white-legged lobe is considered conditionally edible in some sources, it is not recommended to risk your health and eat it. Moreover, in terms of taste, it belongs only to the fourth category. Helwella can cause poisoning, the degree of which depends on the amount of mushrooms eaten.
