SADDLE FUNGI 



139 



Verpa bohemica Ribbed Verpa 



Cap 2-4 cm. tall, 1-3 cm. wide, 

 brownish to brown, ribbed lengthwise, 

 with few or no cross ribs, bell-shaped 

 or blunt conic; stem 4-7 cm. by 1- 

 1J4 cm., white, smooth, tufted-hairy. 

 Stuffed or hollow ; spores clear, el- 

 liptic, smooth, two in an ascus, 40-60 

 X 16-18(U. The name is geographical. 



On moist ground in woodland 

 and grassland ; delicious. 



Verpa conica Smooth Verpa 



Cap 3-^-2 cm. wide, Yi-l^A cm. 

 tall, brownish or brown, smooth or 

 slightly wrinkled, not ribbed, bell- 

 shaped, rarely conic ; stem 2-6 cm. 

 by 3-8 mm., white, smooth or 

 wrinkled, somewhat tufted-hairy, hol- 

 low ; spores clear, smooth, elliptic, 



20-22 X 10-14/1. 



The name refers 



to the shape of 



the cap. 



On moist 



grounds in woods 



and thickets ; 



delicious. 



FlGlRE 103. WuRL'HKLL.-V HM!R11)A 



Figure 104, 



Verpa digitaliformis Finger Verpa 



Cap 1-2 cm. tall and wide, brown or dark brown, smooth, 

 14 bell-shaped; stem 4-10 cm. by 1-2 cm., yellowish-brown or dark- 

 ish when mature, smooth, hollow ; spores clear, elliptic, smooth, 

 24 X 12/i. The name refers to the long finger-like stem. 



On the ground in woods ; delicious. 



HELVELLA 



The cap is free from the stem as in V e r p a, but it is saddle- 

 shaped and more or less lobed, in place of bell-shaped or conic. 

 The stem is often ribbed. In G y r o m i t r a, the cap loses the 

 saddle shape, and is more or less swollen and folded. The species 

 are found on the ground. They are all edible so far as tested. 



Verpa bohemic.v The name refers to the esculent properties 



