Oh, my excitement when I discovered not one, not two, but three morel mushrooms in our woods. And while this might not sound like much to some, those three little fungi are as rare as buried treasure in these woods.
According to photographs and descriptions in the guidebooks, I had found a true morel, the yellow morel—a highly sought after delicacy only second to the truffle.
There are true morels and false morels. True morels belong to the genus Morchella and are edible, while false morels belong to the genus Gyromitra or Verpa whose edibility varies from questionable to lethal.
All false morels are toxic to some degree. In most cases, they can be told apart from true morels in that, the head is large and brain-like, shiny and wrinkled—not pitted. Most dangerous is G. gigas or “snow morel” found at the edge of snow banks and sandy soils among cottonwood trees. Toxicity within this genus occurs within six to twelve hours resulting in bloating, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, vomiting (and in some instances) convulsions, coma, and death.
Yellow morel (Morchella esculenta) also called white morel, is a true morel whose name means “edible.”
The yellow Morel’s root is a network of fine thread-like fibers called “mycelium.” The unmistakable hollow head and stem are creamy-yellow to grayish-beige that darken with age. The head is conical to egg-shaped having deep, elongated pits and ridges. Size varies from just a few inches to a foot tall.
As food: The flavor is delicate having a meaty texture. The head (fresh or dried) can be used to flavor soups, gravies, and sauces. Fresh, they can be stuffed with crabmeat or shrimp, or cheese and breadcrumbs and deep-fried. Mycelium is used extensively as a flavoring agent.
As medicine: Morels are protein rich. Dried and steeped, the tea can be taken to reduce phlegm, or as an intestine and stomach tonic, and to stimulate energy. Mycelium extract can be used as an ointment for arthritis and rheumatism. The extract is also a cancer preventative having significant anti-tumor effects that are being studied for use in chemotherapy.
Warning! Do not confuse with false morels. If in doubt, consult an expert.
Look for yellow morels in spring in open to semi-open sites among hardwood and conifer forests, and well-drained sandy soils and grassy sites of roadsides, orchards, gardens, and cemeteries.
Happy foraging!
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Julie Gomez's books "Collecting Wild Herbs," "Medicinal Fruits & Berries," and "Deadly Herbs" are available at amazon.com.