INDIANA MUSHROOMS
| Half free morels, Morchella punctipes, feature a stem that is attached halfway up the cap. Other morels have stems that are attached closer to the bottom of the cap. Can be found in abundance in some years, which is good because they are rather leggy (more stem than cap). Although, some people love the fried stems as much as the caps. |
| It has been determined that there are as many as 19 different species of morel mushrooms in North America. Taxonomic revision of true morels (Morchella) in Canada and the United States, 2012, Michael Kuo, et al. It is hard to tell many of these mushrooms apart by looking at them, but there are several groups that have defining characteristics. In the Midwest, three familiar groups are the black and two yellow morels. Another morel, the half-free morel, is separated from these groups by its stem/cap attachment. All of these mushrooms are choice edibles. Found in spring, early April to late May, give or take a week or two. Prime time in southern Indiana is mid April to mid May. |
| In the Midwest, the black morel, Morchella angusticeps, is the first to appear in early April with the spring rains and warm nights. Seems to have an association with ash and poplar trees, but is also said to be found under a variety of other trees, including conifers. |
| The classic yellow morel, Morchella americana, usually fruits in late April and into mid May. Large finds are often associated with ash trees, dying elm trees and old apple orchards; can also be found growing under other hardwoods and conifers. These golden yellow examples have light colored ridges and pits. Warm nights and rain during the season brings on more mushrooms; cold nights and dry conditions equals fewer mushrooms. |
| The poor gray morel has turned out to be a yellow morel in disguise, so says the DNA; but it is still gray (and mighty tasty, I might add). Studies have shown that the gray morel, with its dark pits and light ridges, is genetically identical to the classic yellow morel, Morchella americana. The color variation may represent immature specimens or may be caused by factors such as climate, substrate and/or tree association. Who knows? Nobody. |
| Morchella diminutiva, this creamy yellow to golden yellow morel is distinguished from the yellow morel by its smaller size and pits that are more defined and usually vertically arranged. This morel can be found throughout the morel season. Where can it be found? In the woods. |
| Morel Mushrooms, Morchella |
| Dead or dying elm trees. April, 2018; Monroe county, Indiana. |
| Found these on a two hour hike. I was out there for an hour and a half and had only found that small gray under some sycamore trees. But I kept looking. And then, BAM! One little elm tree gave me five nice yellows. Don't give up too easily if conditions are right, they're out there somewhere. |
| Always keep an eye out for the dying elm trees, which can produce large flushes of yellow morels later in the season. Some people don't even look at the ground until they find a tree with the bark falling off. If you move fast and cover a lot of area it can be a successful method. And morels will surprise you sometimes, so look everywhere; the second set of images show a nice batch found growing under juniper. |
| Morchella rufobrunnea; found June 30th. Uncommon. |
