Gyromitra esculenta

[Leif]

Seems they must have been up some time as the ones here were a bit past their prime:



Found south of Milton Keynes on sandy soil in a Pine plantation. There were loads of them. Sad that they are just a wee bit deadly poisonous.

[FungiJus]

Leif - I have never seen this, any chance you could let me know where you found it? PM if you like.

I live in MK and work in Leighton Buzzard so one way or another I am likely to be fairly close.

Cheers
J.

[Leif]

PM sent and good luck. A photo of them in the snow would be cool.

I did not give the grid reference publicly because some people do eat these after preparing them to supposedly remove the toxins. And we do now have an awful lot of East Europeans in the country who might be tempted. But there is evidence that they are never safe even when prepared.

I wonder if Bruce has come across some as he seems to get about a lot in that area?

[FungiJohn]

A very good find indeed.

It should be interesting to find out if the snow has affected the growth of Morchella esculenta in my local areas. Next weekend should see them if past years have anything to go by.

If you don't see any pictures uploaded by Sunday night you can assume that morels in madera wine sauce over fillet of beef is off the menu

[Leif]

Well I am hoping your tips will help me to find true Morels. I thought they were decidedly rare but you clearly do not agree! As ever, the trick is to know the habitat.

[FungiJus]

Spent an hour or so up there this morning in the snow but no luck. Either in the wrong place (although I know that area reasonably well) or they have been eaten by something (deer?) which would be unlikely I guess given thier toxicity. Apparently - although I'm no chemist (I know a man that is) the toxin is one chemical bond away from being rocket fuel.

Perhaps our Eastern European friends beat me to it!

Still - fantastic walk in the snow anyway.

[FungiJus]

Thanks for the extra info Leif - found them this time (although my wife thinks I'm mad going out in the cold twice in one day looking for obscure mushrooms - especially ones you can't eat!).

[Leif]

Originally Posted by FungiJus

Thanks for the extra info Leif - found them this time (although my wife thinks I'm mad going out in the cold twice in one day looking for obscure mushrooms - especially ones you can't eat!).

Excellent. Well, a nice relaxing walk in the countryside can't do much harm can it.