How to Identify Morel Mushroom

Morels sprout in damp areas with 60 to 70 degree daytime temperatures.

Morels are a sought after mushroom that emerges in the spring and summer. Morels grow well in rich, sandy soil in areas with a lot of moisture from snow and rain. They have a distinctive appearance that make them easy to identify once you find them; unlike flat mushrooms, morels are tall, thin and porous. However, there are some poisonous mushroom species that resemble morels, so positive identification is necessary before eating morels.

Things You'll Need

• Long sleeved shirt
• Long pants
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Paper or mesh bag
• Mushroom field guide
• Knife

Instructions

1. Check the shape of the mushroom cap. Morels are cone shaped, cylindrical or in rare cases, pencil shaped. They are tall and narrow with a cap that is usually longer than the stem. The cap is vertically pitted and looks like a sponge. Morels grow anywhere from 2 inches to 12 inches tall.

2. Make sure the cap is hollow and the stem connects to the mushroom at the base as one piece along the entire length. Dangerous lookalikes have caps that are attached to the top of the stem like an umbrella or are only partially attached. Morel stalks are usually lighter than the cap, in sand, yellow or gray colors.

3. Notice the color of the stalk and cap. Different types of morels are named in different regions for their cap color, including black, gray, white, brown, blond, yellow or golden, but most are variations of the same species. Black morels have gray or tan ridges and long brown pits when young and turn almost black as they mature. Gray morels are a form of black morel that grow in burned out areas. Common morels, also known as white or yellow morels have white ridges and dark brown pits when young and yellowish brown ridges and pits as they mature.

4. Look at trees growing near the mushroom. Morels often grow near elm, ash, poplar, sycamore and fruit trees. Many are found near dead or dying trees or stumps, in moist woodlands, old orchards, river beds, high elevations in the west or burn areas.

5. Cut the mushroom in half lengthwise to make sure it's hollow throughout the inside. If you're not sure, ask an expert or take your mushrooms to a local community extension office where experts will identify them for free.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a stick to move aside grass and debris and look for morels that may have been hidden from view.

• Cook morels before eating them.

• Make sure your mushroom is a morel before eating it to avoid illness or poisoning.

• Verpa mushrooms, which resemble morels, can make you sick.

References

• Michigan Morels: Morel Identification
• Mushroom Expert.com: Morel Data Collection Project: Preliminary Results
• The Great Morel
• Missouri Department of Conservation: Edible Mushrooms

Resources

• King of Mushrooms: Gray Morel