How to tell morel mushrooms and false morels apart

0
278
Video false morel vs morel

There might not be a season Ohio foragers enjoy more than morel mushroom season. From now until the middle of May, morel mushrooms will be emerging along the edges of forests, throughout old apple orchards and in locations where there was a forest fire the previous year.

They prefer loose soil that’s rich with humus, high humidity and decaying vegetation such as rotting fallen trees and stumps, especially, rotting elm, cottonwood, ash, aspen, oak and tulip poplar trees.

Incidentally, their toxic and inedible look-a-likes thrive in a lot of the same conditions. Foragers should be careful not to confuse true morels with similar-looking species that can cause illness or possibly even death. Foraged foods, including wild mushrooms, should never be consumed unless they’ve been identified as safe and edible.

Identifying morel mushrooms

common morel
Morel mushrooms are found on the ground in a variety of habitats, including moist woodlands and in river bottoms. Photo credit: Missouri Department of Conservation Staff.

Caps. Morel mushrooms feature distinct pitted caps with an irregular honey-combed or spongelike appearance. Yellow morels have pale ridges with darker pits and black morels have dark ridges with paler pits. Their caps can be conical, egg-shaped, elongated with a rounded top or nearly spherical.

Stems. Morel mushroom stems are unpitted with a smooth or granular texture. They are often crumbly or brittle with no ring. They can be whitish, cream-colored or yellowish. They can have a round, slightly flattened or irregular cross-section profile. They often appear to be creased or folded at the base where the stem widens.

Inside. When sliced lengthwise, both the cap and stem are completely hollow with no cottony material inside. The hollow space inside is a continuous cavity, running seamlessly from the top of the cap to the base of the stem.

See also  6 Best Saltwater Fishing Rods Reviewed

Size. Morel mushrooms typically range in size from 1-4 inches tall, depending on the variety. Yellow morels can reach much larger sizes at the end of the season.

Season. Spring.

Other characteristics. Half-free morels, which are less desirable than yellow and black morels, are the only variety to feature a short skirt around the lower half of the cap. However, there should never be a full loose skirt that hangs from the top of the stem — a defining characteristic of the netted stinkhorn.

False morels and other lookalikes

Several types of mushrooms with wrinkled caps that look similar to morels may appear in the woods during the spring.

Gyromitras, false morels

Caps. False morels have lumpy caps with a brain-like, folded or wrinkled texture. False morel caps can be black, grey, white, brown or reddish. Their cap surface differs from a true morel because they do not have pits and ridges. They bulge outward instead of being pitted inward.

Stems. False morels typically have stocky stems that can appear smooth or ribbed, depending on the variety. Their stems range in color from white to pale tan.

Inside. All false morels have pale, chambered flesh inside. They are not hollow.

Size. False morels are larger than morels on average, ranging in size from 3-7 inches tall and wide.

Season. False morels can be found at different times of the year, not just in spring.

Verpas

Caps. One form of Verpa mushroom features a wrinkled or lobed, pale yellow to brown cap that can appear similar to morel mushrooms. However, its cap is attached to the stem only at the top and its sides hang completely free.

See also  Elk | Hunting Trip | Arkansas

Stems. Verpa stems are lightly colored and brittle.

Inside. Their stems are at least partially stuffed with soft cottony tissue. They are not hollow inside.

Size. They are similar in size to morels, growing 3-8 inches tall.

Season. Verpas are found earlier than morels and continue to grow during morel season.

Elfin Saddles

The color and form of mushrooms in this large genus vary, however, some species look like false morels.

Caps. Elfin saddles have caps that resemble saddles with lobes, folds, flaps or wrinkles.

Stems. Their stems are often ridged or fluted.

Size. They typically grow 4-6 inches tall.

Season. Summer through fall.

Related Content

  • Morel mushroom hunting tips
  • It’s time for hunting ramps and morels

Resources

  • Missouri Department of Conservation
Previous articleHow to choose a hiking shirt
Next article10 Best Orange Hunting Vests for Deer, Upland (& Dogs!)
Ethan Smith is a seasoned marine veteran, professional blogger, witty and edgy writer, and an avid hunter. He spent a great deal of his childhood years around the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest in Arizona. Watching active hunters practise their craft initiated him into the world of hunting and rubrics of outdoor life. He also honed his writing skills by sharing his outdoor experiences with fellow schoolmates through their high school’s magazine. Further along the way, the US Marine Corps got wind of his excellent combination of skills and sought to put them into good use by employing him as a combat correspondent. He now shares his income from this prestigious job with his wife and one kid. Read more >>