Helvella compressa
Helvella compressa, also known as the compressed elfin saddle, is a species of ascomycete "sac fungus" related to the Peziza cups.
Description
The distinctive fruiting body looks roughly like a fortune cookie on a stick. The brownish cap is up to in diameter. The pale stalk is up to 10 cm long and 1.2 cm thick.Similar species
The species can only be confused with Helvella albella, which is rarer, and has a darker brown cap and a smooth underside and H. elastica, which is smaller, with "rounder lobes". H. compressa can be distinguished from H. atra by its coloration.Helvella compressa is genetically closely related to H. stevensii, H. corbierei, and H. levis. H. levis is more common in Europe and the Danish call it Bredsporet foldhat. Helvella stevensii is smaller and paler than H. compressa.