Helvella compressa

Helvella compressa, also known as the compressed elfin saddle, is a species of ascomycete "sac fungus" related to the Peziza cups. Helvella compressa is endemic to North America west of the Rocky Mountains. According to David Arora, H. compressa "seems to be the most common" of the non-fluted Helvellas found in California. Helvella compressa is possibly also present in China and Tibet.

The distinctive fruiting body looks roughly like a fortune cookie on a stick and can only be confused with Helvella albella, which is rarer, and has a darker brown cap and a smooth underside (rather than H. compressa 's "faintly" fuzzy underside) and H. elastica, which is smaller, with "rounder lobes". H. compressa can be distinguished from Helvella atra by its coloration.

Helvella compressa is genetically closely related to H. stevensii, H. corbierei, and H. levis (synonym of Helvella latispora). H. levis is more common in Europe and the Danish call it Bredsporet foldhat ("wide-brimmed hat"). Helvella stevensii is smaller and paler than H. compressa.