Gyromitra gigas
Giant Lorchel ( Gyromitra gigas)
The Giant Lorchel ( Gyromitra gigas ) is a species of fungus in the family Lorchelverwandten. Characteristic features are the relatively large fruiting bodies with ocher- brown, lobed hats.
- 5.1 Literature
- 5.2 Notes and references
- 5.3 External links
Features
Macroscopic characteristics
The hat of the giant Lorchel is 8 to 12 inches high and wide, exceptionally, it can reach a size of up to 20 cm. It consists of large, superimposed curly lobes with rounded or bulbous overall shape. The color varies from light brown to ocher olivbräunlich, also olivgelbe shades occur. The Hutlappen can be grown on a stick or only downwards. The inside of the hollow hat is white.
The usually very short, bulbous stem can be 3 to 6 cm high and thick. It is whitish and feinkleiig on the surface to feinfilzig. The handle shape is a total irregular, broadly depressed, wrinkled or pitted. The stem often runs deep in the earth and can hardly be seen. He is internally crossed by cavities.
The flesh is yellow -white in color, waxy, fragile and has a pleasant smell and taste.
Microscopic characteristics
The fruit layer ( hymenium ) is located on the surface of the hat. The spores are langelliptisch and measure 32-38 × 12-14 microns. They are hyaline and possess inside a large and two smaller oil droplets. Its surface is feinwarzig. At the ends they each have a blunt appendage. In the asci are eight spores.
Artabgrenzung
The fruktifizierende also in the spring morel has more red-brownish hat colors and usually appears a little earlier in the year than the giant Lorchel. Microscopically, both types can be distinguished by their spores.
Ecology and phenology
The Giant Lorchel grows as Saprobiont in riparian forests and sparse deciduous forests, rarely in coniferous forest. The fungus often grows on stumps or on buried wood vermulmten, but also in clearings. Preference is loose, humus-rich soils. The fruiting bodies are formed in the spring roses from April to May. In Germany, the species is considered rare in the Red List of endangered species is listed as endangered in category 3.
Importance
The Giant Lorchel is considered slightly toxic. It contains as the morel Gyromitrin, but in a lesser amount, causing the poisoning of Gyromitra type.