MushroomsCaution

Morels

Morchella spp.

Also called: yellow morel, black morel, half-free morel

Spring honeycomb-capped mushrooms that are hollow inside. False morels look similar and can be deadly.

Morels: Whole plant — Whole plantPhoto: Roy Boyle · CC0 · source

Morels: Look-alike side by side. Early morel (Verpa bohemica), a toxic look-alike — Look-alike side by sideEarly morel (Verpa bohemica), a toxic look-alikePhoto: mycowalt · CC BY-SA · source

Confirm EVERY point before you eat it

Cap is a honeycomb of pits and ridges, not wrinkled, lobed or brainlike
Slice lengthwise: hollow all the way from cap tip to stem base in one continuous chamber
Cap edge fused to the stem (half-free morels attach partway up but are still hollow throughout)
Flesh is brittle like wax, not cottony or stringy
No ring on the stem

0 of 5 confirmed. If any point does not match, it is not this plant.

Look-alikes to rule out

False morels (Gyromitra)Deadly
Brainlike, wrinkled cap; interior is chambered or cottony, not hollow.
See the card →
Early morel (Verpa)Toxic
Cap hangs like a skirt, free from the stem; stem filled with cottony threads. Causes illness in some people.

Warnings

Always cook thoroughly; raw morels are toxic.
Avoid alcohol with morels; some people react.
Try a small portion first.

In season

Peak is roughly 2-4 weeks after ash trees leaf out, once soil temperatures hold around 50-60F. About March to May depending on location.

Habitat

Around tulip poplar, dead ash, dead elms and cottonwoods, and old orchards; disturbed ground, burned areas (fruiting 2-3 years after a fire), riverbottoms and spring flood zones, and old homesites.

Parts used

whole mushroom

Preparation and use

Sliced lengthwise, cleaned and cooked in butter.

Harvest note

Cut at the base; use a mesh bag to spread spores.

Field traits

Grows on: soil near trees
Underside: hollow honeycomb cap
Spore print: cream to yellowish

Backpack Guide: Morel — Positive ID →

Educational reference only. Never eat a wild plant or mushroom based on a website or app. Confirm with an experienced forager, your local extension office, or a mycological club. Poison Control (US): 1-800-222-1222. Call 911 for severe symptoms.