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Half-Free Morels (Morchella species) [ Ascomycetes > Pezizales > Morchellaceae > Morchella . . . ] by Michael Kuo Half-free morels are easily separated from other morels by cutting them in half, lengthwise. The cap of the half-free morel is attached to the stem half way (more or less; "one-third to two-thirds" might be more accurate), so that a substantial portion hangs free like a skirt. Other true morels have caps that are (again, more or less) completely attached to the stem--while false morels in the genus Verpa have caps that hang completely free, like a thimble placed on a pencil eraser. Study of morels in the Morel Data Collection Project has revealed two half-free morels in North America. One of these, "Taxon 11," is apparently widespread and common east of the Rocky Mountains; the other, "Taxon 14," has been documented (so far) only in the West. On the present data, it appears impossible to separate the two half-free morels on the basis of their physical features. North American field guides treat "Morchella semilibera" as our continent's half-free morel, and many of my morel-hunting comrades in the Midwest, God love 'em, call these mushrooms "peckerheads." I recommend using either of these names, or simply "half-free morel," if you are interested in applying a name to your mushroom, come Hell or high water. If you want to be scientifically accurate, however, you'll need to label your mushroom something like: "One of two North American, DNA-defined, putative species corresponding to Mitrophora semilibera, a European morel species that should be named Morchella semilibera and that cannot be compared to North American mushrooms until the Europeans get their act together." Description: Ecology: Probably both saprobic and mycorrhizal in different stages of its life cycle; growing under hardwoods or, more rarely, conifers; found in spring; appearing in large numbers in some morel seasons, but nearly absent in other years; widely distributed in North America (as a species group). Cap: 1.5-4 cm; variable in shape but generally conical and pointed, at least when mature; pitted and ridged; pale to yellowish when young (almost whitish when covered by leaves); when mature with brownish to blackish ridges and lighter brown pits; attached to the stem about half way, creating a skirtlike appearance; hollow. Stem: 4-10 (15) cm; whitish; equal, sometimes twisting or irregular; sometimes discoloring brownish or tan; smooth or more frequently dusted with granules; hollow; often fragile; sometimes barely visible when young; late in the season sometimes developing an enlarged base. Spore Print: Cream, yellowish, or orangish. Microscopic Features: Spores 22.5-26 x 14-17 µ; smooth; elliptical; without oil droplets. REFERENCES: (Smith, Smith & Weber, 1981; Weber, & Smith, 1985; Arora, 1986; Phillips, 1991/2005; Lincoff, 1992; Horn, Kay & Abel, 1993; Weber, 1995; Barron, 1999; Roody, 2003; Kuo, 2005.) Mitrophora semilibera and Morchella hybrida are other scientific names for half-free morels. Further Online Information: Taxon 11 & Taxon 14 in the MDCP |
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Cite this page as: Kuo, M. (2006, April). Half-free morels (Morchella species). Retrieved from the MushroomExpert.Com Web site: http://www.mushroomexpert.com/morchella_half-free.html. |