Morel Family (Central Oregon)

''Morchella esculenta'', is a species of fungus in the ''Morchellaceae'' family of the Ascomycota. It is one of the most readily recognized of all the edible mushrooms and highly sought after. Each fruit body begins as a tightly compressed, grayish sponge with lighter ridges, and expands to form a large yellowish sponge with large pits and ridges raised on a large white stem.