Appearance
The cap of the fruit body is up to 12 cm high by 10 cm wide and is reddish brown, and somewhat saddle-shaped with 2–4 lobes. It frequently develops blackish-brown spots on the surface. During the development of the mushroom, the periphery of the cap grows into the stipe below, to form a hollow, roughly bell-shaped structure with the fertile spore-bearing surface on the outside; as the surface growth of the hymenium continues to expand even after joining to the stipe, the hymenium can no longer follow and it arches up into folds and pads. The stipe, typically between 2–6 cm high and 1–2.5 cm thick, can be various colors from reddish brown to whitish or even bluish, but is typically lighter colored than the cap. The stipe is minutely tomentose – covered with a layer of very fine hairs. The context is thin and brittle. ''G. infula'' does not have any appreciable odor or taste.Ascospores are ellipsoidal in shape, hyaline, smooth, thin-walled, with dimensions of 17–22 by 7–9 µm. They are also biguttulate, containing two large oil droplets at either end. The spore-producing cells, the asci, are roughly cylindrical, eight-spored, operculate and have dimensions of 200–350 by 12–17 |µm. The diameter of the club-shaped paraphyses is 7–10 µm at the apex.
Naming
''Gyromitra esculenta'' has a wrinkled surface , not wavy or bumpy like ''G. infula''. ''Gyromitra ambigua'' is very similar in appearance, and although it is usually not possible to discern between the two species without examining microscopic characteristics, ''G. ambigua'' is said to have more pronounced purple tints in the stipe. ''G. ambigua'' has larger spores that are about 22–30 µm long. The saddle-shaped cap of ''G. infula'' might also lead to confusion with some species of ''Helvella'', but these latter fungi typically have grayer colors and thinner, fluted stipes.
Distribution
This fungus can be found growing singly to scattered in or near coniferous woodland in autumn, often on rotten wood. It is also commonly found on packed ground, such as beside country roads, or in campgrounds. Associated conifers include ''Picea glauca'', ''Picea mariana'', ''Picea sitchensis'', ''Pinus contorta'', ''Pinus banksiana'', ''Pinus monticola'', ''Abies balsamea'', ''Abies grandis'', ''Pseudotsuga menziesii'', ''Tsuga heterophylla'', ''Larix occidentalis'', ''Thuja plicata'', as well as the deciduous tree species ''Populus balsamifera'', ''Populus tremuloides'', ''Acer macrophyllum'', ''Alnus'' species, and ''Betula papyrifera''.''Gyromitra infula'' is widely distributed throughout boreal, montane and coastal forests in North America. The North American range extends north to Canada and south to Mexico. It has also been reported from South America, Europe, and Asia.
Habitat
This fungus can be found growing singly to scattered in or near coniferous woodland in autumn, often on rotten wood. It is also commonly found on packed ground, such as beside country roads, or in campgrounds. Associated conifers include ''Picea glauca'', ''Picea mariana'', ''Picea sitchensis'', ''Pinus contorta'', ''Pinus banksiana'', ''Pinus monticola'', ''Abies balsamea'', ''Abies grandis'', ''Pseudotsuga menziesii'', ''Tsuga heterophylla'', ''Larix occidentalis'', ''Thuja plicata'', as well as the deciduous tree species ''Populus balsamifera'', ''Populus tremuloides'', ''Acer macrophyllum'', ''Alnus'' species, and ''Betula papyrifera''.''Gyromitra infula'' is widely distributed throughout boreal, montane and coastal forests in North America. The North American range extends north to Canada and south to Mexico. It has also been reported from South America, Europe, and Asia.
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