3 May 2010 East Sussex. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. Common Name Common Morel Cap Brain like, with a honeycomb of angular pits and ridges, hollow, yellow brown, darker with age, to about 10 cm across Stem Often irregular and furrowed lengthwise, surface granular, whitish to cream, hollow Flesh White, firm Smell Indistinct Taste Indistinct Season Spring Distribution Rare Habitat In woods, scrub and gardens, favouring chalk soil Microscopic Features Spores ellipsoidal, smooth (18-23) x (11-14) µm2 Edibility Poisonous when raw, edible and excellent when cooked. Take care not to confuse with the False Morel, Gyromitra esculenta. Notes Although one of the most prized edible fungi, this species is mildly poisonous when raw. A notorious case of morel poisoning occured in 1991 at a luxury hotel in Vancouver. The event was in part a retirement dinner for the chief of police, and included numerous health department officials. Chefs prepared a pasta salad which included pieces of raw morel. Out of 483 guests, 77 experienced some symptoms, which included vomiting, nausea and rashes. Some authorities recognise several closely related species. 
25 April 2009 East Sussex. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. 
3 May 2010 East Sussex. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. 
May 2000 Hampshire. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. |