elfin saddle

Noun

elfin saddle (plural elfin saddles)

1. Any of certain ascomycetous fungi of genus Helvella with an irregular cap resembling a saddle, especially Helvella crispa or Helvella lacunosa.
   • 2003, William C. Roody, Mushrooms of West Virginia and the Central Appalachians‎, page 477:

     Here too are the false morels (genus Gyromitra) and elfin saddles (genus Helvella), which are generally regarded — or suspected — to be poisonous when consumed, especially if eaten raw.

2. The ascomycete Gyromitra infula, which similarly resembles a saddle.
   • 1980, The University of Washington Arboretum Bulletin, Volumes 43-45, page 39,

     […] since the Bohemian morel can be confused with the toxic elfin saddle (Gyromitra infula) or other undesirable fungi.

   • 2005, Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station (Portland, Oregon), Research Note PNW-RN-546, page 7,

     Of the several species of Gyromitra that might be encountered in Alaska, two are especially important for morel hunters to learn: Gyromitra esculenta ssp. lato, the beefsteak false morel, and G. infula ssp. lato, the elfin saddle.

See also

• dryad's saddle
• false morel
• morel

Further reading

• elfin saddle on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• Gyromitra infula on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• Helvella on Wikipedia.Wikipedia