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Species map · Helvella crispa

White saddle map of Turkey: where and when it grows

Our map holds 22 verified records of the white saddle (Helvella crispa) from 6 provinces of Turkey. Most come from İstanbul, Kocaeli, Sakarya and Ankara; records peak in January, November and December.

records
22
provinces
6
regions
4
latest record
May 2026

How to identify the white saddle

Points are GBIF and iNaturalist records, each linking to its own record. Locations of protected species are rounded. Open on the main map →

Records by province

  • Marmara 19
  • Central Anatolia 1
  • Black Sea 1
  • Mediterranean 1

Linked provinces have their own page with every species recorded there. Record density also reflects where observers work.

Which months?

Records by month
Jan5FebMarAprMay1JunJulAugSepOct1Nov2Dec13

This page covers only where and when the species is recorded in Turkey. For identification and edibility, see the species page. Built from research-grade, geo-referenced GBIF and iNaturalist records, refreshed at the start of every month.

Poisonous look-alikes of the white saddle

Records by region: Marmara 19; Central Anatolia 1; Black Sea 1; Mediterranean 1. Most records come from İstanbul, Kocaeli, Sakarya, Ankara, Trabzon and Osmaniye.

Records peak in January, November and December; about 13% of dated records fall in September–November and 4% in March–May.

The white saddle appears in autumn and early winter; Turkish records peak in December, with others in January, October and November.

In broadleaf woods, often along paths and tracks, on bare soil or in leaf litter; sometimes at meadow edges. Singly or in small groups.

False morel (Gyromitra esculenta, deadly): The false morel has a reddish-brown, brain-like head and appears in spring under pine. The white saddle is cream-white, saddle-shaped and appears in autumn.

Elfin saddle (Helvella lacunosa, inedible): Same structure, but its head is dark grey to black and its stem greyish.

Morel (Morchella esculenta, edible): The morel has a honeycomb-pitted head fused to the stem and appears in spring; the white saddle has a free-edged saddle-shaped head and appears in autumn.

Frequently asked questions

Where does the white saddle grow in Turkey?

Most records come from İstanbul, Kocaeli, Sakarya, Ankara and Trabzon.

When does the white saddle fruit in Turkey?

Records peak in January, November and December.

Which province has the most white saddle records?

İstanbul, followed by Kocaeli, Sakarya and Ankara. The order also reflects where observers are active.

What habitat does the white saddle prefer?

In broadleaf woods, often along paths and tracks, on bare soil or in leaf litter; sometimes at meadow edges. Singly or in small groups.

Can I pick mushrooms where they are recorded?

A record is not a permit. Commercial picking in state forests needs a permit; picking in national parks is prohibited.

How current is this map?

Records are re-fetched from GBIF and iNaturalist at the start of every month and this page updates automatically.

What should I do in case of mushroom poisoning?

Call 112 at once; Turkey's poison centre is 114.

Sources

  1. 6831 sayılı Orman Kanunu (mevzuat.gov.tr) mevzuat.gov.tr
  2. 2873 sayılı Millî Parklar Kanunu, md. 14 (mevzuat.gov.tr) mevzuat.gov.tr
  3. GBIF ve iNaturalist: Türkiye gözlem kayıtları (sitemizin haritası) gbif.org
All sources (6)
  1. Wikipedia (EN): Helvella crispa en.wikipedia.org
  2. First Nature: Helvella crispa first-nature.com
  3. iNaturalist: Helvella crispa (Türkçe ad ve Türkiye gözlemleri) inaturalist.org

Data sources and licences

Observations from GBIF.org (human observations and herbarium specimens; records flagged with geospatial issues excluded) and iNaturalist research-grade records, retrieved 2 November 2026. Macrofungi only (Agaricomycetes, Pezizomycetes), named to species. Every point links to its own record, with the recorder and licence (CC0, CC BY, CC BY-NC).

Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors. Province centres: Wikidata. Region comes from the record's GADM province, or the nearest province centre when missing. For protected species (iNaturalist "threatened" or IUCN VU/EN/CR) locations are rounded to ~10 km; locations obscured by iNaturalist are marked "approximate".

An observation shows that a mushroom was seen there on that day, not that it is there now or that it may be picked. Counts reflect how many people record fungi in an area more than how common a species is.

Last updated: Prepared by the Poros Mantar editorial teamReport a correction