Helvella lacunosa is a "discomycete" classified in the order Pezizales.

Morphology: Apothecia 1-5 cm high, 2-5 cm wide, irregularly mitrate-convex or saddled shaped. Margin not curving over hymenium, entire-lacerate, adnate to stipe at several points. Hymenium pale gray-black. Sterile surface gray-black, glabrous, ribbed from stipe apex to margin. Stipe 3-13 cm long, 1-4 cm broad, glabrous, costate, ribs round to double-edged, eventually lacunose internally and externally, pale gray-black. Medullary excipulum of textura intricata. Ectal excipulum of textura angularis. Ascospores 12-14 X 12-22um, ellipsoid (truncate ends), with one large oil droplet, smooth-verrucose. Asci 12-20 X 250-300um, not blue in iodine. Paraphyses clavate, 4-9um wide.

Ecology:Widespread, common in western North America. Fruits in late summer and fall. Solitary, or scattered to gregarious; on soil or rotting wood in conifer or mixed conifer-deciduous forests.

References:
Weber, N.S. 1972. The Genus Helvella in Michigan. The Michigan Botanist 2:147-201.
Arora, D. 1986. Mushrooms Demystified, 2nd edition. Ten Speed Press, Berkeley, CA.