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Morels

Common Morel

Morel mushrooms
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Morel Mushroom Hunt

Go on a hunt of a different kind. Morels are a springtime favorite.
Morchella species
Family: 
Morchellaceae
Description: 

There are at least three species of morels in Missouri. All are hollow-stemmed mushrooms emerging from the ground in spring to early summer, with a somewhat conical cap/head covered with definite pits and ridges, resembling a sponge, pinecone, or honeycomb. In black and yellow morels, the bottom of the head is attached directly to the stem. In half-free morels, the bottom half of the cap hangs free from the stalk. In all cases, the stem of true morels is hollow.

Look-alikes: Don't confuse true morels (Morchella spp.) with false morels (Gyromitra spp.), which can kill you. Don't eat any wild mushroom unless you've identified it as a safe edible and have cooked it thoroughly.

Size: 
Height: 2–12 inches.
Habitat and conservation: 
Morels are found on the ground in a variety of habitats, including moist woodlands and in river bottoms. They are often associated with ash trees, dying elms, and apple trees, although they are found elsewhere as well, under both hardwoods and conifers. The fruiting bodies (mushrooms) grow out of the ground in late March and in April. They are common but notoriously hard to locate against the forest floor.
Distribution in Missouri: 
Statewide.
Status: 
Morels are considered choice edible mushrooms. As with all wild mushrooms, be sure of your identifications, and always cook them.
Life cycle: 
Morels exist most of the time underground as a network of cells (mycelium) connected to tree roots, rotting material, and the soil. In late March, the mycelium sends up the thing we recognize as a morel aboveground. This structure is a way for the fungus to reproduce; spores are produced and released from the spongelike part. The mycelium of a morel can live for decades.
Human connections: 
As wild edibles, morels are treasured both for their delectable flavor and for the fun of the hunt.
Ecosystem connections: 
Many animals relish morels, from deer and squirrels to the tiny insects that we rinse off before cooking. Belowground, morels form symbiotic relationships with roots of many trees, helping them get nutrients. As saprophytes, morels decompose dead leaves and wood, helping them return to the soil.

Related Information

  • Morel Recipes

    Fresh morels are a tasty harbinger of spring. Take advantage of wild Missouri's little hidden treasures with these recipes.

  • Mushrooming

    Many Missouri mushrooms are edible, but proper identification is essential to avoid illness and even death. Get hunting, identification and cooking guidance here.

  • Yellow Morel (Common Morel)

    The yellow morel is a choice edible mushroom. It has a honeycombed cap with yellow to grayish to tan ridges and pits. It is completely hollow and grows in the spring.

  • Black Morel

    The black morel is a prized edible mushroom. It has a honeycombed cap with black to brownish black ridges and yellowish brown pits. It is completely hollow and grows in the spring.

  • Half-Free Morel

    The half-free morel is an excellent edible mushroom. It's completely hollow. It has a honeycombed cap with brownish black ridges and yellowish brown pits. The bottom half hangs free from the whitish stalk.

  • False Morels

    This group of poisonous mushrooms includes species that are commonly confused with the delectable morels. Before you go mushroom hunting, learn how to tell the difference between these fungi and the truly edible morels.

External Links

  • Missouri Mycological Society

    The Missouri Mycological Society (MOMS) is an organization of individuals and families dedicated to the study and enjoyment of mushrooms.

Other Content You May Like

  • Black Morel

    The black morel is a prized edible mushroom. It has a honeycombed cap with black to brownish black ridges and yellowish brown pits. It is completely hollow and grows in the spring.

  • Half-Free Morel

    The half-free morel is an excellent edible mushroom. It's completely hollow. It has a honeycombed cap with brownish black ridges and yellowish brown pits. The bottom half hangs free from the whitish stalk.

  • Yellow Morel (Common Morel)

    The yellow morel is a choice edible mushroom. It has a honeycombed cap with yellow to grayish to tan ridges and pits. It is completely hollow and grows in the spring.

  • Morel Mushroom Hunt

    Use this video to learn how to hunt morel mushrooms.

  • The Wild Morels

    Mushroom hunters log plenty of woods miles in search of succulence.

  • Morel Stuffing Recipe

    This video provides a great morel stuffing recipe to go with your main turkey dish.

  • Morel Season a Bust?

    A week or two ago, newspaper columnist Ken White raised the question of what had happened to morels this year.

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