Unidentified Fungi Help please

[micbou]

Hi all,
I'm new here.
I was wondering if anyone could tell me a little about this that I found in my garden this morning?
It looks quite amazing but i'm worried about whether it would be poisonous/harmful to my dog? She likes to eat everything in sight.
Its approx 6 inches tall.
Thank you so much.
Michelle

[Gerel]

I don't think that's going to harm your dog (although there are folk on here that might fight her for it )

Try searching for "morel"


Steve


Welcome to WAB by the way.

[micbou]

Thanks Steve,
I'm fascinated by this 'morel', in fact I have looked again and there
are about 4 of these in the garden.
They are all growing in/on the woodchip on the flower bed, directly underneath our cherry tree.
I will make sure I don't disturb them.
Michelle

[cybershot]

Welcome to WAB
http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/black-morel
Hope this helps
David

[Chris Yeates]

hi

definitely not a problem for your dog . . . this is indeed a Morchella species; most people on this site would name this M. elata, but there is also the possibility of the rare M. costata (which I have never seen, and so cannot comment)

Courtecuisse (1995) says "M. costata is often confused with M. elata . . . (= M. conica) which has less parallel ribs and occurs in woods." He cites "orchards, rubbish heaps" as the habitat for costata - woodchips under a cherry tree could count as that habitat, and those ribs are pretty parallel . . .

the distinctions between the various morel "species" are often very subjective, and microscopy does not help - but as I say certainly no threat to health

best wishes

Chris

[micbou]

Thanks david and Chris for all the info, I keep going out to see if i can find more!!