Morel Season is Upon Us
April 20, 2022
Ezra DeVore
A common family tradition in Southwest Missouri households is the yearly search for morel mushrooms. These wild mushrooms are renowned for their pleasant flavor and considered quite the Midwestern delicacy by many.
Though, their surprising rarity is notable, with many hunters pleased to discover one solitary mushroom, and avoiding the toxic mimics.
There are three morel species that grow in Missouri: the yellow morel (also referred to as the “common morel”), the black morel, and the half-tree morel.
With caps that resemble brains, but a neutral, nearly dull coloration, they’re easy to miss, though quite recognizable once unearthed. Veiled in forest-floor flora, the mushrooms present a challenge to be found, though there are tricks.
Spring is the optimal time to begin your pursuit, as thawing months offer warm conditions and a moist earth; two crucial conditions for morels.
According to the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), when day temperatures hover in the low 70s, and the night is in the low 50s, the Goldilocks Zone has been reached, and conditions for growth are right.
Additionally, the morels’ peak season lies in tandem with the blooming season for lilacs. When lilacs bloom, so do morels.
Largely, however, tips on where exactly to locate the mushrooms are predominantly anecdotal, as each morel only rises above the ground some years - based primarily on soil temperature and water availability. Therefore, even specific root systems are unreliable on an annual clock.
Morels can be difficult for new-comers to differentiate from similar-looking mushrooms that can cause illness, or even death.
These are easily differentiated if you know what to discern: one key being, morels are always hollow-stemmed. Also, the conical cap of a morel is carved with pits and ridges, resembling a sponge or honeycomb.
Furthermore, black and yellow morels have a head directly attached to their stem, whereas many "false morels" have free-hanging heads, unattached to their stem.
With half-tree morels however, the bottom half of the cap is unattached to the stalk. It is vital to remember, all true morels are entirely hollow. This is a key separation.
False morels, the mushrooms that can cause illness or death (a rather gaunt alternative to a fun family dinner), may have similar caps, though may also have caps riddled with folds, lobes, or wrinkled.
These mushrooms are absent of the signifying pits or ridges a true morel’s cap displays.
Moreover, these false morels will not be fully hollow - both cap and stalk will fail to resemble the hollowness of a true morel, and instead be likely filled with a cotton-like substance.
While some false-morels are entirely edible, and, according to the MDC, even enjoyed for years by people of the Great Lakes region, it is strongly advised to all but the most-seasoned of morel-hunters to avoid all false morels.
A good rule to adhere to is simply to never eat a wild plant you aren't 100% sure about.
Either way, be prepared to cook all collected mushrooms thoroughly before accompanying any meal with them.
Currently, Missouri is reaching the mid-portion of morel season; thus, it is recommended to search slopes that face the north and east. Dead domesticated apple trees, elm trees, and cottonwoods can be hospitable grounds for morels. River bottoms and wet woodlands can also produce the mushrooms.
The MDC states that permits will not be required for morel hunting. It is still advised to double-check specific area regulations, however.
A common family tradition in Southwest Missouri households is the yearly search for morel mushrooms. These wild mushrooms are renowned for their pleasant flavor and considered quite the Midwestern delicacy by many.
Though, their surprising rarity is notable, with many hunters pleased to discover one solitary mushroom, and avoiding the toxic mimics.
There are three morel species that grow in Missouri: the yellow morel (also referred to as the “common morel”), the black morel, and the half-tree morel.
With caps that resemble brains, but a neutral, nearly dull coloration, they’re easy to miss, though quite recognizable once unearthed. Veiled in forest-floor flora, the mushrooms present a challenge to be found, though there are tricks.
Spring is the optimal time to begin your pursuit, as thawing months offer warm conditions and a moist earth; two crucial conditions for morels.
According to the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), when day temperatures hover in the low 70s, and the night is in the low 50s, the Goldilocks Zone has been reached, and conditions for growth are right.
Additionally, the morels’ peak season lies in tandem with the blooming season for lilacs. When lilacs bloom, so do morels.
Largely, however, tips on where exactly to locate the mushrooms are predominantly anecdotal, as each morel only rises above the ground some years - based primarily on soil temperature and water availability. Therefore, even specific root systems are unreliable on an annual clock.
Morels can be difficult for new-comers to differentiate from similar-looking mushrooms that can cause illness, or even death.
These are easily differentiated if you know what to discern: one key being, morels are always hollow-stemmed. Also, the conical cap of a morel is carved with pits and ridges, resembling a sponge or honeycomb.
Furthermore, black and yellow morels have a head directly attached to their stem, whereas many "false morels" have free-hanging heads, unattached to their stem.
With half-tree morels however, the bottom half of the cap is unattached to the stalk. It is vital to remember, all true morels are entirely hollow. This is a key separation.
False morels, the mushrooms that can cause illness or death (a rather gaunt alternative to a fun family dinner), may have similar caps, though may also have caps riddled with folds, lobes, or wrinkled.
These mushrooms are absent of the signifying pits or ridges a true morel’s cap displays.
Moreover, these false morels will not be fully hollow - both cap and stalk will fail to resemble the hollowness of a true morel, and instead be likely filled with a cotton-like substance.
While some false-morels are entirely edible, and, according to the MDC, even enjoyed for years by people of the Great Lakes region, it is strongly advised to all but the most-seasoned of morel-hunters to avoid all false morels.
A good rule to adhere to is simply to never eat a wild plant you aren't 100% sure about.
Either way, be prepared to cook all collected mushrooms thoroughly before accompanying any meal with them.
Currently, Missouri is reaching the mid-portion of morel season; thus, it is recommended to search slopes that face the north and east. Dead domesticated apple trees, elm trees, and cottonwoods can be hospitable grounds for morels. River bottoms and wet woodlands can also produce the mushrooms.
The MDC states that permits will not be required for morel hunting. It is still advised to double-check specific area regulations, however.
