Morchella angusticeps

Morchella angusticeps (Black Morel) fruiting body found growing in an open field with Blueberries (Vaccinium angustifolium and V. myrtilloides) and Bracken Fern (Pteridium aquilinum).

comments (6)

Christine Young

Lion

Interesting to find it in a field. I have found a few in fields before too - without any nearby trees.

About how large was it? Morchella septentrionalis is nearly identical and would be found in your area, I think. It's a bit smaller than Morchella angusticeps. Posted 6 years ago
1. Gary B
  
  Lion
  
  I can't remember the exact size but doubt it was Morchella septentrionalis based on ecological conditions. Kuo http://www.mushroomexpert.com/morchella_septentrionalis.html states that species tends to grow in association with woody debris whereas this is an old blueberry field with a solid herbaceous layer of small sedges and grasses. Nearby trees are white spruce and balsam fir, both large species very large and old, with a few poorly growing quaking aspen (DBH ~4 inches). Posted 6 years ago
2. 1. Christine Young
    
    Lion
    
    Makes sense! Posted 6 years ago

Ferdy Christant

Lion

Beautiful species! Posted 6 years ago
1. Gary B
  
  Lion
  
  Hoping to find more this spring since last year was not a drought year and this winter we've gotten a lot of snow. Posted 6 years ago

Christine Young

Lion

From today's Facebook post:

Never ask a mushroom hunter where you can find some morels because you will probably receive a blank stare in return—with or without an obscene gesture! Morels are one of the most favored wild mushrooms in the world. The hunt for morels consumes mushroom enthusiasts each spring, and inspires strict secrecy regarding the locations of wild populations.

The Black Morel (Morchella angusticeps) is widely distributed in North America where it fruits on the forest floor under hardwoods, such as white ash (Frexinus americana), green ash (Frexinus pennsylvanica), and tulip poplar (Liriodendron tulipfera). It's a choice edible and a true treasure of the forest. Morels are the reproductive fruiting bodies of the underground mycelium , which is mycorrhizal and saprobic with local trees. This means that the mycelium grows on the root system of a tree, and the two organisms share nutrients. The movement of sap in the spring causes the fruiting bodies (mushrooms) to develop. {Spotted in Minnesota, USA by JungleDragon moderator, Gary B} #JungleDragon

**This photo and the information presented in this post are not enough to positively identify a morel. Never consume a mushroom if you are not 100% sure of its identification as there are many poisonous look-alikes. Always consult an expert for confirmation and for the proper preparation techniques before eating. When in doubt, throw it out!** Posted 6 years ago

The Black Morel

"Morchella angusticeps" is a species of fungus in the Morchellaceae family native to eastern North America. Described by Charles Horton Peck in 1879, the name "M. angusticeps" was clarified in 2012 prior to which this species may have been referred to as either "M. angusticeps" or "M. elata".

Info 3 0

Similar species: Pezizales

Species identified by Gary B