Helvella pezizoides
Helvella pezizoides Afzel. : Fr.
Leptopodia pezizoides (Afzel. : Fr.) Boud.
Helvellaceae
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B1ab(iii,iv)].
Morphology and biology. Cap cup-shaped to saddle-shaped, 0.8–3 cm wide. Upper (fertile) surface dark brown to black. Lower surface grey to dark brown, tomentose. Stipe cylindrical or slightly flattened, smooth, with 1–2 shallow chambers towards the base, 1.5–6 × 0.3–0.5 cm, grey to dark brown, whitish to yellowish at base. Spores ellipsoid, 17–20 × 10–12 µm, smooth, hyaline, arranged in a row; with a large central oil drop. IX–X.
Habitats and populations. On the ground in deciduous and mixed forests.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Vitosha Region (Vitosha Mt – Slanchev Rid locality), Sredna Gora Mts (Western – Mt Lozenska).
General distribution. Europe, Asia, North America.
Threats. Habitat loss/degradation caused by stock breeding, wood plantations, logging, urbanization, development of tourism/recreation infrastructure, soil pollution.
Conservation measures taken. Included in the Red List of Fungi in Bulgaria. Several localities are within the borders of Vitosha Nature Park. Some localities are in sites 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. Hinkova & Alexandrov 1971.
Authors: Roumyana D. Petrova & Cvetomir M. Denchev
