morel (Morchella esculenta)
Morchella esculenta is a spring mushroom with a light, honeycomb-like chambered cap that forms a single cavity with the stem. It is a coveted, but only well cooked edible mushroom.
Scientific name: Morchella esculenta
Features
The cap is 3 to 10 cm high, roundish to egg-shaped, yellowish, greyish to ochre brown, with irregular honeycombs whose ribs remain lighter. There is no underside with gills or tubes; the fruit layer lies in the honeycombs. The stem is whitish, steep, often thickened at the base. The cap and stem are hollow inside throughout; cut through each Morchella esculenta longitudinally. It smells pleasantly spicy. Do not try them raw. The flesh is waxy brittle and whitish. Cream to ochre yellow
Habitat
Ash, elm, fruit trees and poplar; Alluvial forests, parks, gardens.. Lime-containing, nutrient-rich soils, including bark mulch.. In higher mountain ranges it is missing.
Season
April to June Depending on the weather locally from February to July.
Weather and fruiting
Soil around 8–15 °C after snowmelt plus rain: too hot and dry, and the window closes fast.
Lookalike risk
Gyromitra esculenta: Her cap is brain-like tortuous and red-brown, internally chambered and not continuously hollow. Half-free morel: The cap is small and sits only half on the long stem, the lower cap edge stands free. Bell morel: The smooth to wrinkled cap sits like a thimble only on the top of the stem.
More regions
morel · Scottish Highlands
Cool, wet Atlantic climate; season later and longer than in southern England.
morel · Cairngorms
Upland granite and pine woods; elevation delays fruiting compared with the coast.
morel · New Forest
Lowland mixed woods and heath; earlier season after mild, wet summers.
morel · Lake District
High rainfall on western fells; valleys fruit earlier than high tarns.
morel · Galloway
Mild, wet south-west Scotland with Sitka and mixed woodland.
More species
FAQ
What does the map show?
Weather-based foraging chances, not a guarantee that fruit bodies stand at the pin.
Can I eat this mushroom?
No page replaces identification. If unsure, leave it or ask an expert.
Common morel: is it edible?
Yes, it is an edible mushroom. Raw poisonous; Gyromitra esculenta is a dangerous doppelgänger at the same time.
Common morel: when and where does it grow?
In central Europe the season runs April to June. Depending on the weather locally from February to July. Habitat: Ash, elm, fruit trees and poplar; Alluvial forests, parks, gardens.
Common morel: what are the lookalikes?
The most important distinction is from Gyromitra esculenta (Gyromitra esculenta, deadly poisonous): Her cap is brain-like tortuous and red-brown, internally chambered and not continuously hollow. Other lookalikes: Bell morel, Half-free morel.
When is a trip worth it?
Soil around 8–15 °C after snowmelt plus rain: too hot and dry, and the window closes fast.