Morels

jamesv · #1 (**permalink**) 10-12-2007, 08:19 PM

Hello,

Any advice on the best time of year and most likely habitat to find morels? I live in the Weald of Kent and last spring came across what I'm pretty sure was the remains of a sizeable (circa 8cm in length) morel on a laneside bank. It was sadly a somewhat fly blown specimen so it was no good for the pot but its fuelled something in me to search for more!

Any tips to lead me to this wonderful 'shroom would be gratefully appreciated. Also any pretenders I should be aware of?

Many thanks.

Leif · #2 (**permalink**) 10-12-2007, 09:58 PM

I look forward to any replies to this thread as in my experience Morels are rather rare in the UK, but they are a favourite. I tend not to eat them, uinless they occur in large numbers, but love to photograph them.

Black Morels, Morchella elata, do sometimes occur in large numbers on wood chips in gardens, and parks. I have also seen them on sandy soil with Pine.

Common Morels (and someone is going to pull me up on the name), M. esculenta and related species, occur in deciduous woods, especially on alkaline soil. I have seen them on the South Downs, sometimes in quite large numbers. Unfortunately the location was popular with dog walkers, and, well, you can guess the rest. Elsewhere they are rare but I presume they must be local, so if you find a hot spot, they will re-occur each year.

I have seen Common Morels from early Spring, when the Ivy is growing but not thick on the ground, and I have seen Black Morels in May and early June.

I am told that Morels also occur in April.

Mitrophora semilibera is fairly common, and could be mistaken for a Morchella, especially when it has a short stem. They grow in rich woods, and on sandy soil especially with Hawthorn, and often in wasteland. I often seen them near paths, such as by canals, for some reason. They are edible but not worthwhile.

False Morels, Gyromitra esculenta, are locally common, especially down where Nick Cantle resides. I have seen them near Witley, and in the surrounding areas, often in very large numbers. They appear each year at the end of the Winter, in March if I am not mistaken. They always precede the edible morels, at least in my experience. They are deadly poisonous, so best not eaten.

Cidermaker · #3 (**permalink**) 14-12-2007, 12:23 PM

The trick to telling morels and false morels (tuban fungus) apart is the central space: I think in morels it is undivided, and in false morels, it is divided into chambers. Best to check in one of the books, though.

I also remember seeing H Fernley-Whatsit rooting around in someone's recently mulched rose-bed in spring, looking (successfully) for morels.

jamesv · #4 (**permalink**) 14-12-2007, 01:50 PM

Thanks Cidermaker and Leif. Thats what I love about this forum - you get straight talking helpful advice from real experts. Noting Leif's comments about rarity is there anyway to check the central chamber issue without felling the beast. Suppose I could make a small incision?

NickCantle · #5 (**permalink**) 14-12-2007, 02:23 PM

Thanks for the info on Gyromitra esculenta Leif

I've found Morchella elata in woodchip in someone's front garden (Photographs in the Gallery). I believe I've seen Morels growing in various places but I've never been able to investigate as I was usually on the bus. Now I've been driving for a while, I'll be fine...

I'm looking forward to searching again this spring. I'm determined to find some Morchella esculenta nearby in the downs trails...

Nick

Leif · #6 (**permalink**) 15-12-2007, 05:31 PM

False morels are actually quite easy to distinguish once you know what they look like. True morels are very angular, whereas false morels have smooth brain like folds, and lack the deep depressions of the true morel.

Here is a picture of G. esculenta:

World Photography Gallery - Message - Powered by PhotoPost

Unfortunately you must register to see it. (I'm reluctant to put the image on this site as I cannot see how to delete images.)

Searching online will find further images which explain what I mean.

That said, the dangers of mistaken identity are very real. So do take care of 'morels' growing with conifers.

PMG · #7 (**permalink**) 15-12-2007, 09:01 PM

Mitrophora semilibera is fairly common, and could be mistaken for a Morchella, especially when it has a short stem. They grow in rich woods, and on sandy soil especially with Hawthorn, and often in wasteland. I often seen them near paths, such as by canals, for some reason. They are edible but not worthwhile.

I've gone a funny shade of green while reading this Leif! I found the above way back in spring 1984 in Sea Wood, Bardsea, near Ulverston Cumbria. Friends will tell you laughingly about my annual pilgrimages to refind it - every single year since then (23 years

) I have old slides of it and would love to apply the digital to it, but can I find it again - NOooooooooooo

Roll on spring 2008 - I'll be back

Pauline

NickCantle · #8 (**permalink**) 27-12-2007, 11:59 AM

Just added another photo regarding size of morels. Admittedly, these are elata and not esculenta, but I don't think size varies that drastically. I'd say there were young specimens.

Nick