MorelMorchella
True morel · Morilla · Elotitos · Choretuwi · Kjo iotho
Morchella is a genus of mushrooms with pitted, ridged caps that are edible with precautions. In Mexico they grow in forests and in gardens in urban areas. They can be confused with poisonous false morels.[7][13][16]
Edible with caution. Eat it only well cooked and with a sure ID. Never eat a wild mushroom identified only from photos.
- Season in Mexico
- HabitatForests and gardens
- FamilyMorchellaceae
How do you identify Morel?
- Cap
- Pits are bounded by ridges; the shape varies between species.[7]
- Ridge color
- In black morels such as M. angusticeps, mature ridges are dark brown to black.[8]
- Fertile surface
- In the M. esculenta complex, the fertile surface lines the cap's pits.[2]
- Stem
- In M. rufobrunnea, the stem is whitish to grayish, yellowish, or brownish.[9]
- Interior
- The fruiting body is essentially hollow when sliced lengthwise.[7]
- Example measurements
- The cap of M. rufobrunnea is 6-12 cm tall and 2-5 cm wide. These measurements apply to that species.[9]
What can Morel be confused with?
Morel
Gyromitra esculentaGyromitra esculenta
Key difference: The cap has brainlike folds.[10][13]
See pageMorel
Gyromitra infulaGyromitra infula
Key difference: The cap is saddle-shaped with raised lobes.[11][13]
Can you eat Morel?
It is edible with precautions. Eat only specimens identified by an expert, and cook them thoroughly. Never eat them raw or undercooked. Even cooked morels can cause adverse reactions.[14][15][16]
Where and when does Morel grow?
Documented months vary locally. In Ocoyoacac, Estado de México, fruiting is reported from September through January (S3). Jalisco collections include February, July, August, September, October, and December (S4).[3]
This is a partial list of documented Mexican states. The genus is widely distributed, chiefly in temperate regions (S4).[2]
Names in Mexico
About the name
Mexican records include M. guatemalensis and M. rufobrunnea, and the M. angusticeps, M. costata, M. elata, and M. esculenta complexes. M. tridentina has also been recorded. M. conica and M. esculenta var. umbrina appear in Mexican literature. Molecular studies are needed to confirm which species are inside these complexes (S4).[2][5][7]
