The mushrooms in Helvella, sometimes called the “Elfin Saddles,” have irregular caps that are smooth or “wavy” and are saddle-shaped, lobed, or cup-like. This mushroom takes on different shapes as it develops. The caps first resemble cup fungi but then become saddle shaped or three lobed. The cap shape is important in its identification. The caps are not brightly colored, and are usually white, cream, buff, brown, gray, black, or tan. The undersurface of the cap is fuzzy. Its stalk is ½ to around 2 inches long. The cap is ½ to 1 ¾ inches wide and ½ inch to almost 2 inches high.