Gyromitra sp. (False morel)

There is some variation in the appearance of the the fruitbody in this genus. The classic Gyromitra fruitbody consists of a convoluted cap, with rounded folds, atop a stem. The cap is brown and may be several centimetres in diameter and the stem (much paler, even white) several centimetres long.

Recent studies have also included species with contorted cup-like fruitbodies in this genus. Such species were previously placed in other genera and some people now treat those genera as sub-genera of Gyromitra.

The fruitbodies appear on the ground.

Not much has been published about the Australian members of this genus.

The classic Gyromitras are colloquially known as false morels, the true morels belonging to the genus Morchella, with conical to spherical caps pitted somewhat like honeycomb.