6 



Fig. 3. Gyromitra esculenta Fries. ^^ Esculent Gyromitra.'''' 



Genus Gyromitra Fries. This genus contains very few species, but 

 all are considered edible, though differing somewhat in flavor and di- 

 gestibihty. Five or six species are figured by Cooke. Peck speaks of 

 several species found in New York. One of these, G. curtipes Fries, 

 is also figured by Cooke as found in North Carolina. This species 

 Cooke regards as equal in flavor to G. esculenta. G. esculenta has a 

 rounded, inflated cap, irregularly lobed and hollow, smooth and brittle in 

 texture, reddish brown. It falls over the stem in heavy convolutions, 

 touching it at various points. The stem is stout, stuffed, at length 

 hollow, whitish or cinereous ; spores elliptical with two nuclei, yellowish, 

 translucent. The plant is usually from two to four inches in height, 

 but larger specimens are found. 



Fig. 4 represents the spore sack with enclosed sporidia. 



Mr. Charles L. Fox, of Portland, Maine, records the Gyromitra escu- 

 lenta, of which he sent me a very good specimen last spring, as quite 

 abundant during May in the open woods near the city named. Speaking 

 of this species, he says : " From the point of view of their edibility, we 

 have classed them under two heads — the light and the dark varieties. 

 These differ in the locality in which they are found, in their color and in 

 the convolutions of their surface. Both grow large. 



" The Light Gyromitra is the more easily digested of the two. Its 

 height varies from three to five inches, cap three to five inches in diam- 

 eter. Its cap is inflated, very irregular, and twisted in large convolutions. 

 These convolutions are almost smooth on the surface, sometimes showing- 

 small depressions ; margin generally attached to the stem in parts. It is 

 a transparent yellow in color. This variety does not grow dark brown 

 with age. Stem white or very light buff, smooth, and hollow. It grows 

 best on slopes facing the south, in scant woods of birch, maple, and pine. 

 We have found no specimens in open places or on the borders of woods. 



" The Dark Gyromitra is more common than the light variety. Its color 

 is generally of dark lake brown, even in the young plant, though it is 

 sometimes of a light warm yellow, which grows darker with age. Stem 

 flesh-colored or pallid, but not white, nor so light as in the first variety. 

 Its cap is similar in its large convolutions to that of the light variety, 

 but it is covered with many intricate vermiform ridges, sometimes in high 

 relief or even strongly undercut. Grows in mossy places, in light sandy 

 soil, on borders of pine woods. Its flesh is brittle, but not so tender as 

 that of the first variety. Both varieties dry readily. We should advise 

 eating the Dark Gyrorhitra only in moderate amounts, as, if eaten 

 in quantity, or if old specimens are used, indigestion or nausea is Hable 

 to follow. In regard to both varieties, I would advise that only young 

 specimens should be eaten at first, as they are more tender and less pro- 

 nounced in flavor than the older plants. We have eaten, however, a con- 

 siderable quantity of the Light Gyromitra with no unpleasant results. 



