Helvella lactea
Helvella lactea Boud.
Helvellaceae
Conservation status. Critically Endangered [CR B1ab(iii)+2ab(ii)].
Morphology and biology. Cap saddle-shaped composed of irregular lobes, 1.5–3 wide. Upper (fertile) surface milky white to creamy, reddish brown when dry. Lower surface whitish, naked, and wavy. Stipe short, 2–3 × 0.8–1.2 cm, with deep longitudinal chambers; whitish, yellowish when dry, nude. Spores ellipsoid to broadly ellipsoid, 14.5–18 × 10–11.5 µm. IX–X.
Habitats and populations. On moist soils near rivers.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Vitosha Region (Vitosha Mt – Slanchev Rid locality).
General distribution. Europe, North America.
Threats. Unknown.
Conservation measures taken. Included in the Red List of Fungi in Bulgaria. The known locality is within the borders of Vitosha Nature Park and in a site of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Study of the population numbers and range; better understanding of the species biology and ecology; conservation of the habitats; regular monitoring.
References. Alexandrov 1970, 1971.
Authors: Roumyana D. Petrova & Cvetomir M. Denchev
