Morchella esculenta; At last

[chazzpott]

After almost giving up on finding any, and with very little time now before I
leave for Scotland, I went out for a quick forage in the wood where I found theMorels last year. April has been very dry in this part of Essex and what with the cold winter, the Morels are about 2 weeks later than last year. Strangely, there are no Morchella semilibera at all, when there were masses last spring.




[b]These six were all I found. Not bad though.

[/B
A single M elata found in a different part of the same wood.
It's good to know that they're still there and seem to be doing OK.
Chas.

[juliohevia]

Great spot man! Well done!

[Belly77]

Nice find Chaz.

I've hunted most of North West Essex but no luck. I’ve found loads of Morchella Semilibera over the years but never Esculenta. I was lead to believe that the Semilibera don't grow in the same spots as Esculenta, is this true?

What part of Essex are you in?

Do you have any pics of the habitat you found them in? I've looked under Ash in areas of chalk with ground ivy but never a sniff.

I've got a theory that all my local woods are irrigated due to all the surrounding arable farm land. The ground goes bone dry really quickly in this part of the world and I'm sure it plays havoc with the edible fungi. I am probably totally wrong but it’s just something I’ve noticed over the years.

[NickCantle]

Originally Posted by chazzpott

[/B
A single M elata found in a different part of the same wood.
It's good to know that they're still there and seem to be doing OK.
Chas.

Your M. elata looks more likely to be M. esculenta.

[Leif]

Originally Posted by Belly77

I’ve found loads of Morchella Semilibera over the years but never Esculenta. I was lead to believe that the Semilibera don't grow in the same spots as Esculenta, is this true?

I find Mitrophora semilibera, Disciotis venosa and Verpa conica in similar habitats, sometimes side by side, especially the first and last. They seem to like clay soils, especially Disciotis venosa. Morchella esculenta do seem to grow on their own, in my experience anyway, and I don't think they like clay soil. Usually free draining poor alkaline soil. False Morels love sandy soil in Pine woods.

I assume there is something in the soil in the parts of Yorkshire where they grow in the millions by all accounts.

[chazzpott]

I thought the same thing Nick, but I wasn't sure. So I thought I'd label it as M elata and hope someone smarter than I would put me right
Unfortunately I don't have a better photo of it.
Chas.

[chazzpott]

I also have found M semilibera, M esculenta, V conica and Disciotis occurring together in an alkaline, well drained soil.
As it is only 2 years since I discovered these M esculenta I don't really have much knowledge of general habitat, but these ones are in a small, mixed broad-leaved wood. The ground flora is mainly Nettles, Ground ivy and Lesser celandine, with Ivy (Hedera) in some places. The 'shrooms were originally discovered by accident and at the time, the last place I would have looked for morels. I am a little wiser now
It is also the only place I know of where they grow, so as to it's locality Well, I couldn't possibly comment!
Happy foraging, Chas.

[Ditiola]

Hi

I photographed these Morchella conica (I think conica) today at my local shopping centre. I counted 10 in a bed 2m x 1m

and: no I did not pick them! and no I am not saying where they are.

Peter

[NickCantle]

M. elata Peter, due to appearance and substrate. Excellent photo!

[Ditiola]

Thanks Nick, I will re name my photo.

Peter