Gyromitra esculenta
Clades: Discinaceae, Pezizales, Pezizomycetes, Ascomycota, Fungi, Plants.
Name: Gyromitra comes from gyro meaning convoluted and mitra meaning turban.
Name: Helvella esculenta.
English: False morel; Brain mushroom; Beefsteak morel; Stalked brain; Elephant era; Turban top; Crumpled rusty can; Collapsing parachute; Mass of sunburned earthworms on a stick.
Genus: 18 species.
Region: northern hemsiphere, Scandinavia.
Taxonomy: Gyromitra is closely related to the genus Discina, and Pseudorhizina, Hydnotrya, and only distantly related to Helvella.
Mycology: saprophytic fungus; shape grotesque shape; small clouds of spores during spells of dry, warm weather; olatile. Rocket fuel.
Content: gyromitrin.
Intoxication: highly poisonous; gyromitrin is metabolised into monomethylhydrazine, causing gastroenteritis, haemolysis, failure of liver and kidney, seizures, coma; the symptoms start late, ± 8 hours after eating; the toxins are destroyed by cooking; interferes with vitamin B6, reducing Gaba.
DD: Phosphorus.