Gyromitra infula
Gyromitra infula
The hooded false morel or elfin saddle, Pouched False Morel (Gyromitra infula (Schaeff.) Quél. 1886) is a mushroom belonging to the Discinaceae family.
Systematic –
From a systematic point of view it belongs to:
Eukaryota domain,
Fungi Kingdom,
Ascomycota Division,
Subdivision Pezizomycotina,
Class Pezizomycetes,
Pezizales Order,
Family Discinaceae,
Genus Gyromitra,
G. infula species.
The term is basionym:
– Helvella infula Schaeff..
The terms are synonymousi:
– Gyromitra apiculatispora (Raitv.) Eckblad;
– Gyromitra infula f. gyrosa Benedix;
– Gyromitra infula var. apiculatispora Raitv.;
– Helvella friesiana Cooke;
– Helvella infula Schaeff.;
– Helvella infula f. friesiana (Cooke) Bres.;
– Helvella infula var. similis P.Karst.;
– Helvella infula var. terrestris Alb. & Schwein.;
– Helvella infula var. truncigena Alb. & Schwein.;
– Helvella rhodopus Krombh.;
– Physomitra infula (Schaeff.) Boud.;
– Physomitra infula var. friesiana (Cooke) Boud.;
– Physomitra infula var. rhodopoda P.Karst.;
– Physomitra infula var. rhodopus (Krombh.) Boud..
Etymology –
The term Gyromitra comes from the Greek γῦρος gýros, round, circle and from μίτρα mítra, heavy band of twisted wool worn by Roman officiants during sacrifices.
The specific epithet infula comes from the Latin “infula”, i.e. priestly headdress with ribbons, miter of bishops, due to its shape.
Geographic Distribution and Habitat –
Gyromitra infula is a saprophytic fungus that grows in the Northern Hemisphere, usually between late summer and autumn, and grows on rotten wood or hard, compacted soil. In detail, this mushroom is widely distributed in the boreal, mountain and coastal forests of North America and in the North American chain that extends north to Canada and south to Mexico. It has also been reported in South America, Europe and Asia.
The growth habitat is in coniferous or mixed forests, on litter and woody residues or burnt areas, even on sawdust or on hard packed soil, in summer-autumn. In particular it can be found alone or scattered in or near coniferous forests in autumn, often on rotten wood. It is also commonly found on hard-packed terrain, such as alongside country roads or on campsites. The associated conifers are: Picea glauca, Picea mariana, Picea sitchensis, Pinus contorta, Pinusbankiana, Pinus monticola, Abies balsamea, Abies grandis, Pseudotsuga menziesii, Tsuga heterophylla, Larix Occidentalis, Thuja plicata, as well as the deciduous tree species Populus balsamifera, Populus tremuloides, Acer macrophyllum, Alnus species and Betula papyrifera.
Recognition –
Gyromitra infula is recognized by the cap of the fruiting body (technically an apothecium) up to 12 centimeters high and 10 cm wide, reddish-brown in colour; it is slightly saddle-shaped with 2-4 lobes. It frequently develops blackish-brown spots on the surface. During the development of the mushroom, the periphery of the cap is incorporated into the underlying stem, to form a hollow structure, roughly bell-shaped, with the fertile spore-forming surface (the hymenium) on the outside; since the surface growth of the hymenium continues to expand even after joining the stalk, the hymenium can no longer follow it and arches into folds and pads.
The stem, typically 2 to 6 cm tall and 1 to 2.5 cm thick, can be various colors, from reddish brown to whitish or even bluish, but is typically lighter in color than the cap. The stem is meticulously tomentose – covered with a layer of very fine hairs. The context is 1–2 millimeters thick and fragile.
The flesh is thin, elastic, leathery, whitish, reddish, with a fungal odor and pleasant flavour.
Under the microscope, ellipsoidal, hyaline, smooth, thin-walled ascospores can be seen, with dimensions of 17–22 x 7–9 µm. They are also biguttulated, containing two large droplets of oil at either end. The spore-producing cells, the asci, are approximately cylindrical, with eight spores, operculate (open with an apical lid to discharge the spores), and have dimensions of 200–350 by 12–17 μm.
The diameter of the club-shaped paraphyses is 7–10 µm at the apex.
Cultivation –
Gyromitra infula is not a cultivated mushroom.
Customs and Traditions –
Gyromitra infula was first described in 1774 by the German mycologist Jacob Christian Schäffer as Helvella infula (the original spelling of the genus was Elvela). In 1849 Elias Magnus Fries established the genus Gyromitra, distinguishing it from Helvella based on a gyroscopic hymenium (marked by wavy lines or convolutions); the genus was based on the type species G. esculenta. Subsequently, in 1886, the French mycologist Lucien Quélet transferred the species to Gyromitra. The following decades witnessed persistent confusion regarding the correct taxonomic placement of these fungi. In 1907, Jean Boudier moved both G. esculenta and H. infula into a newly created genus which he called Physomitra; he maintained the genus Gyromitra but «based it on a completely different character so as to exclude from the genus the very species on which he was based». In an attempt to reconcile the confusion surrounding the naming and identity of the two mushrooms, Fred J. Seaver proposed that both were synonymous, representing variable forms of the same species. His suggestion was not adopted by subsequent mycologists, who identified various differences between the two species, including fruiting time, as well as macroscopic and microscopic differences.
In Italy it is commonly called “Elvella infula”, “Elvella mitrata”, “Spugnola mitrata”; in North America “hooded false morel, elfin saddle, Pouched False Morel”; in France “Gyromitre en turban”; for Spain: in Catalan “orella de gat”; in Euskera “mitra marroi”; in Germany “Bischofsmütze”; in England “hooded false morel”, “elfin saddle”.
The Gyromitra genus includes ascomycete fungi from the Northern Hemisphere which includes 18 species.
This mushroom can be confused with: Gyromitra esculenta (Persoon) Fries 1849, however it has a wrinkled surface (similar to a brain), not wavy or bumpy like Gyromitra infula; Gyromitra ambigua (P. Karsten) Harmaja 1969, which is very similar in appearance, it is true that it is usually not possible to divide the two species without examining the microscopic characteristics, Gyromitra ambigua has more pronounced purple hues in the stem and larger spores , the saddle-shaped miter which could sometimes also lead to confusion with some species of the Helvella genus, but the latter usually have grayer colors and thinner and grooved lobes.
As far as edibility is concerned, it is toxic; contains gyromitrin, a toxic compound, which, when metabolised by the body, is converted into monomethylhydrazine, a component of some fuels used in rocket propulsion.
Although much of the gyromitrin can be removed by boiling with generous volumes of water, consumption is not advisable due to possible long-term health effects. There is evidence that even small doses of gyromitrin can have a cumulative carcinogenic effect.
Preparation Method –
Gyromitra infula is an inedible mushroom due to the presence of gyromitrin, a mixture of various types of hydrazines, of which the most representative is N-methyl-N-formyl-hydrazone acetaldehyde.
This molecule, once it reaches the stomach, is hydrolysed into N-formyl-N-methyl hydrazine and gives rise to N-methyl hydrazine (MMH), the molecule responsible for the so-called Gyromitra syndrome.
MMH is a potent hepatotoxicant with carcinogenic properties.
The lethal dose for humans is 30–50 mg per kilogram of body weight.
Guido Bissanti
Sources
– Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
– GBIF, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility.
– Cetto B., 2008. Mushrooms from life, Saturnia, Trento.
– Pignatti S., 1982. Flora d’Italia, Edagricole, Bologna.
– Conti F., Abbate G., Alessandrini A., Blasi C. (ed.), 2005. An annotated checklist of the Italian vascular flora, Palombi Editore.
Photo source:
– https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/256646262/original.jpeg
– https://pms.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gyromitra_infula#/media/Figura:Bischofsm%C3%BCtze-1.jpg
Attention: Pharmaceutical applications and food uses are indicated for informational purposes only, they do not represent in any way a medical prescription; we therefore decline any responsibility for their use for healing, aesthetic or food purposes.