220 



STUDIES OF AMERICAN FUNGI. 



Another species which has a wide range is the Helvella lacunosa, so 



called because of the deep longitudinal grooves in the stem. The 

 cap is thin, but differs from the H. crispa in that the lower margin is 

 connected with the stem. This species is illustrated in Fig. 219 from 

 plants collected at Blowing Rock, N. C, during September, 1899. 



The genus Gyromytra is very closely related to Helvella, and is 

 only distinguished by the fact that the cap is marked by prominent 

 folds and convolutions, resembling somewhat the convolutions of the 

 brain. Its name means convoluted cap. The Gyromytra esculenta Fr., 

 is from 5-10 cm. high, and the cap from 5-7 cm. broad. While this 

 species has long been reported as an edible one, and has been 

 employed in many instances as food with no evil results, there are 

 known cases where it has acted as a poison. In many cases where 

 poisoning has resulted the plants were quite old and probably in the 

 incipient stages of decay. However, it is claimed that a poisonous 

 principle, called helvellic acid, has been isolated by a certain chemist, 

 which acts as a violent poison. This principle is very soluble in hot 



water, and when 

 care is used to 

 drain off first 

 water in which 

 they have been 

 cooked, squeezing 

 the water well 

 from the plants, 

 they are pro- 

 nounced harm- 

 less. The safer 

 way would be to 

 avoid such sus- 

 picious species. 



Spathularia velu- 

 tipes Cooke & 

 Far low. This 

 species represents 

 another interest- 

 ing genus of the 

 Discomycetes. 1 1 

 is in the form of a 

 "spatula," and 

 from this shape of the plant the genus takes its name. There 

 are several species known in this country, and this one is quite 



FiGURK 220. Spathularia velutipes (natural size). Copyright. 



