Helvella lactea is a species of fungus in the family Helvellaceae, characterized by its white to cream-colored, lobed or wrinkled cap, and white stem. In East and Central Texas, it typically fruits in late winter to early spring, often in association with oak trees, particularly Quercus buckleyi and Quercus stellata. It can be found in a variety of habitats, including woodland edges, savannas, and along streams, where the soil is rich in organic matter and moisture is plentiful. The fungus produces ascospores that are white to hyaline in color, elliptical in shape, and measure 18-24 μm in length.
White elfin saddle mushrooms (Helvella lactea) on burned pine wood on Caney Creek section of Lone Star Hiking Trail in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, June 5, 2021
Lone Star Hiking Trail, Montgomery, TX 77356, USA
Side view of white elfin saddle mushrooms (Helvella lactea) on burned pine wood on Caney Creek section of Lone Star Hiking Trail in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, June 5, 2021Lone Star Hiking Trail, Montgomery, TX 77356, USA
White elfin saddle mushroom (Helvella lactea) on a burned forest floor on Caney Creek section of Lone Star Hiking Trail in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, June 5, 2021Lone Star Hiking Trail, Montgomery, TX 77356, USA
White elfin saddle mushrooms (Helvella lactea) on burned pine needles on Caney Creek section of Lone Star Hiking Trail in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, June 5, 2021
White elfin saddle mushroom (Helvella lactea) on burned soil on Caney Creek section of Lone Star Hiking Trail in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, June 5, 2021
White elfin saddle mushrooms (Helvella lactea) on burned pine wood near Pole Creek on North Wilderness Trail of Little Lake Creek Wilderness in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, June 8, 2021Lone Star Hiking Trail, Montgomery, TX 77356, USA
White elfin saddle mushrooms (Helvella lactea) on pieces of wood under pines near Pole Creek on North Wilderness Trail of Little Lake Creek Wilderness in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, June 8, 2021Lone Star Hiking Trail, Montgomery, TX 77356, USAIn East and Central Texas, observations of Helvella lactea were made in the Sam Houston National Forest. The fungus was found growing on burned pine wood, forest floor, pine needles, and soil on the Caney Creek section of Lone Star Hiking Trail and near Pole Creek on North Wilderness Trail of Little Lake Creek Wilderness. Specifically, sightings occurred on June 5 and 8, 2021, with multiple instances of single and clustered mushrooms. The substrate varied, including burned wood, forest floor, and pine needles, indicating the fungus's ability to thrive in post-burn environments. The observations suggest that Helvella lactea is well-adapted to the region's burned areas, particularly under pine trees. The sightings were concentrated in a relatively small area, highlighting the importance of this habitat for the species. Overall, the observations provide insight into the ecology and distribution of Helvella lactea in East and Central Texas.
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