Pacific Northwest US, June 2018
False morel (Gyromitra esculenta)
[Photo sent in by @fetching-redemption]
This is one of various species referred to as a ‘false morel’ - toxic fungi which might, or have been, mistaken for the edible and much-sought morels (Morchella sp.).
It can be recognised by its irregularly shaped cap, which is wavy and lobed rather than deeply pitted, as true morels are. The cap often slopes to one side, rather than being more or less symmetrical, is often wider than it is tall, and, if we were to cut this mushroom open, we would find several irregular tube- and cavern-like hollows divided by walls of thick white flesh, rather than a completely hollow mushrooms. This last point is the one to look out for while gathering morels - if the mushroom isn’t completely hollow from the tip of the cap to the base of the stem, don’t eat it!
These mushrooms are deadly in their toxicity.
