The Morel season may be here

[Leif]

Originally Posted by jennyb

Oh dear - this just proves how useless I am at this game. Good job I did not try to eat it. So is it not a morel? Rogers says that Mitrophora semilibera is called semifree morel.

Jenny

It is definitely not Morchella esculenta, or a close relative.

The two choices given the dark cap are Morchella semilibera and Morchella elata.
You need to section one and see how the cap is attached to the stem. M. elata is like a balloon in that the stem merges into the stem. M. semilibera has a cap that is more like a hollow cone perched on top of the stem. I would not want to say for sure that it is but I think Nick is right given the jizz.

Morchella elata pops up in gardens fairly often. In fact quite a few records from local groups are in gardens.

I will celebrate today having successfully located lots of Ash trees and ground Ivy. Two out of three is almost there. Well, I found some Paxina acetabulum and got very wet.

[Leif]

BTW Semi-free morels are edible, but not particularly good. Whereas true morels ... well you'd better ask FungiJohn ...

[NickCantle]

Don't worry Leif, I'm in the same boat. Spent four or five hours today looking for Ramsons, Wood Anemone and Ground Ivy with Ash...I found the Ash and Ivy but no Morels So you reckon there are Morchella esculenta in my area Leif?

Nick

[NickCantle]

Originally Posted by Leif

BTW Semi-free morels are edible, but not particularly good. Whereas true morels ... well you'd better ask FungiJohn ...

If you ask FJ, do it by PM unless you want Mal to start beheading people

[jennyb]

Okay - I've just been out and picked one. Here it is



Does this help?

Is there anything else I need to do to help ID it?

Jenny

[NickCantle]

Not now Definitely Mitrophora semilibera

[jennyb]

Can you explain why? The top looks joined to the stem to me.

Jenny

[NickCantle]

The fact you referred to Phillips makes me think you've got it to hand. If you look at both Morchella elata and Mitrophora semilibera, you can see that the stem of Morchella elata joins the main fruiting body at the bottom of the head whereas with Mitrophora semilibera, the stem goes right inside of the head and joins it nearer the top of the organism.

Morchella elata = /\ (Stipe doesn't protrude into the head)


Mitrophora semilibera = /|\ (Stipe goes inside the head joining the body further up)


Nick

[Leif]

Originally Posted by jennyb

Can you explain why? The top looks joined to the stem to me.

Jenny

The top has to be joined to the stem. Though it is a miracle that the stem is exactly the right length to join with the cap, and not too short or too long. Such is nature.

Seriously, look at how the stem goes inside the cap and joins the cap at the peek. In other words you can wobble the stem about inside the cap. A true morel is like a balloon with the stem being the bottom part of the balloon, and narrow, and the cap being the top part. Look at the sections on Roger Phillips web site and you will see. That beats my ham fisted explanations.

[jennyb]

Thanks guys, I understand now. BTW, I use Phillips online - I don't have the book but find the online version very handy.

Well, at least it is another new one to add to my list

Thanks for all your help.

Jenny