Snow Morel

not listed

not listed

not listed

Snow Morel is an early forest mushroom. It occurs in Europe, North America, and Japa. It is common in Europe but uncommon in North America based on the small number of records for the species. It is found in the spring and early summer alone, scattered, or in groups, on the ground or on rotten wood, under coniferous or hardwood trees, often poking through leaf litter. It is saprobic, obtaining nutrients from rotting wood, and might also be mycorrhizal, having a mutually beneficial relationship with the tiny rootlets of trees. It may exhibit both traits at different parts of its life cycle.

Snow Morel is called a “false morel” due to its similarity in appearance and seasonality to true morels (Morchella spp.).

The cap is usually 1¼″ to 4″ wide and 1¼″ to 2⅜″ high, but may be much larger. It is hollow, strongly and deeply wrinkled, highly convoluted, and brain-like. It is often squarish and blocky, and is usually compact, without strongly projecting lobes. The upper surface is dull, yellowish-brown or tan when young, becoming darker brown or reddish-brown with age. The margin of the cap is attached directly to the stalk but it is often ingrown at that point and may appear unattached.

The stalk is massive, ¾″ to 4″ tall and wide, about as wide as the cap. It is pale tan or whitish, hairless, and sometimes ribbed or longitudinally wavy or folded. It is often mostly or completely hidden by the closely appressed cap.

The flesh is brittle, thin, whitish, and chambered. It is edible if sautéed but not edible when raw. Some authors suggest that it be avoided due to its similarity in appearance to the poisonous False Morel (Gyromitra esculenta).

Forests

Hardwood trees

Spring and early summer

Sources

4, 7, 24, 26, 29, 30, 77.

Uncommon in North America

Until recently, two snow morels were recognized: Gyromitra montana in coniferous forests in the Rockies and westward, and Gyromitra korfii in hardwood forests east of the Rockies. An analysis of spore morphology in 2006 showed them to be the same species, and G. korfii and G. montanai became synonyms of Gyromitra gigas. The merge was not universally accepted. Many sources continue to treat the three species separately. iNaturalist treats the three, along with five other species, as the Gyromitra gigas Species Complex.

Share your video of this fungus.

Location: Hubbard county

Location: Fillmore County