Morel I.d please

wildmanofthewoods · #1 (**permalink**) 06-05-2008, 12:44 AM

I found this Morel on Saturday but i am trouble nailing down a positive I.D. i wonder if anyone can help.
I found it growing amongst a patch of lichen on an ex british steel tip site, the site is very poor in nutrients so is an exceptional site for wildflowers, tho none were growing here strangely. What is really confusing is the stem it becomes more bulbous towards the top. Your help will be greatly appreciated thankyou.

NickCantle · #2 (**permalink**) 06-05-2008, 12:51 AM

Well, you see, that's a tough one. From the habitat, it sounds like M. esculenta, from the photo, it looks like either M. elata or Mitrophora semilibera. Sorry to have to say it, but you would have been able to ID it so much more easily if you cut it down the middle- admittedly we don't think of these things whilst out there, well I'm guilty of that

Could you accurately say if the stem joined the head at the bottom of the head, or did the stem go right up into the head?

This is an odd one, but just to have a shout straight away, i'll say Mitrophora semilibera, though this species is renowned for damp woods and grassland- so habitat is well wrong, but that's what I'm hedging my bets on (for now)

Nick

EDIT (without even submitting the first post

) I now think that this is M. esculenta, just to confuse you more.

EDIT AGAIN! Okay, looking at the photo again, I reckon M. elata

Final call is M. elata

wildmanofthewoods · #3 (**permalink**) 06-05-2008, 01:09 AM

Cheers Nick, there is an off chance that i may go back in the morning, should i be able to find it what should i look for to give a more diagnostic i.d.

NickCantle · #4 (**permalink**) 06-05-2008, 02:03 AM

Well if you do perchance re-discover this specimen, may I suggest having a look to see where the stem joins the head. Maybe a cross section if you can't just see where it joins? Up to you

Report back though, it's very interesting indeed

Nick

FungiJus · #5 (**permalink**) 06-05-2008, 01:11 PM

Another one of those interesting ones Nick.

The 'cap' looks to be quite big for M. semilibera however I would go for your first punt. I haven't seen tons of the true morels (esculenta or elata) however I have seen a fair number of semilibera and the clincher for me is the stipe. For me, this always appears more opaque, slightly more orangey coloured and waxy looking in semilibera that the others.

Hopefully we will get a section to see for sure.

wildmanofthewoods · #6 (**permalink**) 06-05-2008, 08:51 PM

I managed to find the Morel again, obviously past its best now but hope these shots help.

NickCantle · #7 (**permalink**) 06-05-2008, 09:02 PM

Blimey, now that's got me completely stumped

Well, we can certainly rule out Morchella esculenta

I think we're looking at Mitrophora semilibera mate

The terrain had me baffled at first because I thought it might be M. esculenta, but with the age, it's transformed in the way M. semilibera does. I think we can safely rule out M. elata as the habitat is unsuitable, unless of course there were Conifers or woodchip in close proximity?

Leif · #8 (**permalink**) 06-05-2008, 09:09 PM

Well it's a true Morel, and not Morchella semilibera. It does not look like M. esculenta, so that leaves M. elata and some authors also recognise M. conica as a distinct species.

NickCantle · #9 (**permalink**) 06-05-2008, 09:13 PM

How do you figure that it's a true Morel Leif? I did think M. elata, but it was Mal's photo and a recent photo of FJ's of Mitrophora semilibera that made me change my mind... Mal's photo shown below- M. semilibera in the stage where the stem bulbs out at the top and is no longer housed in the fertile head.

Nick...

EDIT(without editing, again

)

I concur with Leif that this is Morchella elata, just the substrate has my head in utter limbo

wildmanofthewoods · #10 (**permalink**) 06-05-2008, 09:15 PM

it seems i've opened a can of worms

There were definately no wood chips the nearest trees were birch saplings

NickCantle · #11 (**permalink**) 06-05-2008, 09:18 PM

It's nothing to be ashamed of, just make sure you hide from Flaxton

Well, we've deduced M. semilibera and M. esculenta from the equation, and you'd think that just leaves M. elata, but the substrate is so uncharacteristic. I guess we could put this one down to experience?

Leif · #12 (**permalink**) 06-05-2008, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NickCantle

How do you figure that it's a true Morel Leif? I did think M. elata, but it was Mal's photo and a recent photo of FJ's of Mitrophora semilibera that made me change my mind... Mal's photo shown below- M. semilibera in the stage where the stem bulbs out at the top and is no longer housed in the fertile head.

Nick...

EDIT(without editing, again

)

I concur with Leif that this is Morchella elata, just the substrate has my head in utter limbo

Nick: I assume that M. semilibera always has part of the cap base free from the stem, to justify the name if nothing else. I know that some forms have a small head on a long stem, but this does not look right for that, although they are very variable.

Well, at least one of the guesses here will be the right one. Just as a stopped clock tells the right time twice a day.

NickCantle · #13 (**permalink**) 06-05-2008, 09:40 PM

That's a good way of looking at it Leif, and I suspect you are indeed correct mate

As I say though, the only thing from dissuading confirmation of M. elata is the habitat. Has anyone ever reported it growing in scrub?

FungiJohn · #14 (**permalink**) 06-05-2008, 09:49 PM

Does this help Nick … or does it make things worse

Semifree Morel - Mitrophora semilibera

Leif · #15 (**permalink**) 06-05-2008, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NickCantle

That's a good way of looking at it Leif, and I suspect you are indeed correct mate

As I say though, the only thing from dissuading confirmation of M. elata is the habitat. Has anyone ever reported it growing in scrub?

I know not, but apparently Morchella conica is known in such habitats. I have packed my books ready to move so I can't check.

FungiJohn · #16 (**permalink**) 06-05-2008, 10:10 PM

Doesn't M. elata have deep elongated pits!

NickCantle · #17 (**permalink**) 06-05-2008, 10:15 PM

So what's Morchella conica when it's at home? Is it a synonym of M. semilibera?

FungiJohn · #18 (**permalink**) 06-05-2008, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NickCantle

So what's Morchella conica when it's at home? Is it a synonym of M. semilibera?

I thought Morchella conica had a much larger cap

... I need a drink

NickCantle · #19 (**permalink**) 06-05-2008, 10:31 PM

What is it then? Is it a completely separate thing? It's in no literature of mine

FungiJohn · #20 (**permalink**) 07-05-2008, 12:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NickCantle

What is it then? Is it a completely separate thing? It's in no literature of mine

Morchella conica and Mitrophora semilibera are two different species Nick. Treat yourself to Fungi of Switzerland Vol 1 Ascomycetes

NickCantle · #21 (**permalink**) 07-05-2008, 12:59 AM

Did you forget I'm a student? Not for long teehee!!!

I'll be getting that hopefully this year John

wildmanofthewoods · #22 (**permalink**) 07-05-2008, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NickCantle

That's a good way of looking at it Leif, and I suspect you are indeed correct mate

As I say though, the only thing from dissuading confirmation of M. elata is the habitat. Has anyone ever reported it growing in scrub?

Firstly thanks to everyone, it certainly is interesting, admittedly i don't know what i perhaps should about fungi and this is the only the second Morel i have ever seen, the first was actually on the same site and was definately different, it was old and dried.
Anyway i am swinging towards the Morchella elata theory my book says its rare but does occur on refuse sites, and having looked at other images on the web it does look like most although they do vary loads..