Is this morchella esculenta?

[Olly_the_Frenchman]

Hello,

Could the experts on this site kindly have a look at these pictures, and tell me whether this is definitely a yellow Morel or else what else it could be. The stem, colour and consistency of the cap feel right, as well as season and location (yesterday in a wood, alongside some m. semilibera). However I don't like the rather random arrangement of the lobes, I remember morels as being much more oval-shaped and regular. Unfortunately as this was a lone specimen I couldn't compare it with its brothers (or sisters? )

I did find the same species last year at the same site, and thought then that they had been esculenta but the specimen were so rotten and decomposed that now I'm not too sure.

Many thanks in advance!
Olly

[Leif]

My guess is that your specimen is a slightly atypical Morchella esculenta. If you are in France, can't you ask the local pharmacist to check it out, and give you peace of mind?

[Olly_the_Frenchman]

Many thanks Leif.

I live in Oxfordshire actually. Besides, I have used french pharmacists before but most of them these days don't have anywhere near the expertise that people like yourself or FungiJohn are displaying on this forum.

Would it help the identification if I cut it in half? I read somewhere that morels should always be hollow inside...

Cheers
Olly

[mykonik]

Originally Posted by Leif

My guess is that your specimen is a slightly atypical Morchella esculenta. If you are in France, can't you ask the local pharmacist to check it out, and give you peace of mind?

I would agree with that Leif - just a slightly atypical ascocarp of Morchella esculenta - I can also say that it's NOT Gyromitra esculenta !

Nick

[NickCantle]

There are apparently a few variations of M. esculenta, but not to worry, they're all edible. As Nick reassures, it's definitely not Gyromitra esculenta. There's nothing else it could be really. I'm convinced it's M. esculenta

Nick

[FungiJohn]

Hi Olly, having seen one or two of these in my time I would say they are M. esculenta too A good find indeed

John

[Leif]

So now there are four people you can haunt when you drop dead from eating a poisonous misidentified mushroom.

[PeteS]

Looks frost damaged to me. Frost damaged M. esculenta. Hardly surprising considering it was only last week that we had snow and temps down to -5degC

[Olly_the_Frenchman]

Oh well, you can't live in fear...

I shall now proceed to eat half of it and patiently await the first signs of multiple organ failure.

... or maybe I'll hang it to dry for now and wait if I find any more in the same patch next week-end to confirm the identification!

Yep, that sounds like a better idea...
Olly