Searching for Black Morels
This weekend we went on a mushroom foray in search of black morels. However, the cold weather and large amounts of snow resulted in us being just a bit early in the season. However, we did encounter some other interesting fungi and beautiful flowers while enjoying the delightful company and incredible weather.
The trilliums and wild orchids are just beginning to appear.
Some beautiful Western Fairy Slippers were found along the mountain streams.
Regarding the mushroom finds, the most exiciting were the False Morels, or Early Morels (Verpa). These morels are considered by some to be edible with caution, but most documentation references toxicity, so do your research carefully. Also, wild mushrooms and alcohol do not mix. Never eat mushrooms and drink alcohol.
The Early Morel looks very similar to a black morel, but the cap of the mushroom is not attached to the stem.
The Early Morel looks very similar to a black morel, but the cap of the mushroom is not attached to the stem.
- The top is connected at the absolute top of the cap; it does not connect at the stem like a black morel.
- With the slightest pull, twist, or sometimes even a tap, the cap will fall right off.
- The cap is wrinkled rather than pitted as the true morels are.
- The color can vary from yellow to dark brown. Caps are usually brown or reddish brown, the stems are usually yellow.
- These mushrooms are considered saprotrophs, meaning they feed on dead and decaying organic matter. Some have suggested that they may be mycorrhizal as well (forming a symbiotic relationship with trees). We found almost all of them at approximately the drip line of large cotton wood trees in lightly shaded areas.
- Like true morels, false ones are often found in areas where the forest floor has been disrupted. You're more likely to see them near washes, rivulets, man-made disturbances in the ground, and roadsides.
Notice how the false morel is not hollow inside. Here you can see very clearly how the cap attaches only at the top. So how do you identify a true morel from a false one?
Until next time!
- The cap of the false mushroom hangs freely from the stem. A true morel has a cap that will be attached to the stem. This is not always the case but more often than not it is.
- The false morel's stem is usually filled with cotton-like fibers, unless a slug has eaten inside it, and then it will appear hollow. A non-edible one will usually be filled with wispy cotton-like fibers or chunks of tissue. If you slice an edible morel open from top to bottom it will be hollow inside.
Until next time!
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