http://www.jg-tc.com/articles/2007/03/28/features/farm/farm002.txt
Getting truth out of a morel can be tough if you’re a beginner Extension to offer program to help you locate, identify elusive shrooms
By ANTHONY BRATSCH, Horticulture educator UI Extension Office
With winter finally breathing its last, a popular spring past-time is upon us -- searching for the elusive morel. Found only in the spring, the morel is a much sought after wild edible mushroom which occurs naturally in Illinois and throughout the Midwest and Great Lakes region.
Morels, or any other mushrooms, are essentially a “fruit,” much like an apple on a tree. The true unseen mushroom “body” is an underground network of fine thread-like material known as “mycelium“, which feeds on organic matter in the forest soil. It is believed that the largest living land organisms are mycelial bodies, which through DNA tests have been shown to spread many square miles from a single parent source.
Morels belong to a group of fungi known as the Ascomycetes. This group also includes the “false” morels, which are found at the same time and can be toxic to some people. The well-known truffles are also in this group. There are approximately five species of morel (Morchella spp.) found in Illinois. Of these three types -- the black, yellow, and white morel -- are the most important species. For the morel enthusiast, the yellow or common morel is the one most easily found during the spring season. It is the easiest to spot, is the largest and has the longest season.
Depending on the weather, morels begin appearing as soils warm. The black morels are the first to emerge and are associated with the first signs of spring such as woodland violets and emerging mayapples. Depending on location in the state, the first black morels begin to appear toward the end of March into early April. The white and yellow morels usually follow 1 to 2 weeks later and can overlap with the black morel season. Their seasonal (or plant phenology) indicators are expanding oak leaves and blooming apple orchards. Usually the morel season will end by the second week in May in south-central Illinois, and 1 to 2 weeks later in the northern part of the state. Thus for any given location, we have about 4 weeks of good hunting.
The greatest challenge for mushroom hunters is the search. Asking a mushroom hunter where he found his prize is like asking a fisherman where his favorite spot is. This is because once a morel site is found; they can be picked there from year to year. The morel reputation for elusiveness is due to its unpredictable fruiting nature from year to year. However there are many good tips to assist you in the hunt, such as morel association with certain trees such as elm, ash, oak and cottonwood and other woodland plants, and understanding soil drainage and moisture characteristics.
But the most important technique is the ability to distinguish between false and true morels as you come across them in the field. Always know what you are looking for, enlist the help of experienced “shroomers“, and access the abundant literature and other sources of information on the topic if you are a beginner. Always follow the old adage: “When in doubt, throw it out” when hunting mushrooms. Toxicity and poisoning from eating the wrong mushrooms can be serious and life-threatening, and therefore be cautious, and learn to safely I.D. this important group of edible fungi.
To assist you with your spring hunt, Coles County Extension is offering an education program “Tips on Habitat, Identification and Hunting Morel Mushrooms.” Dr. Anthony Bratsch, Extension Horticulture educator, will present the program on Wednesday, April 4 at 6:30 p.m. at the 4-H Extension Center.
The program will address the ecology, identification and safety concerns of hunting the popular morel.
There is a program fee of $5.00 to cover the cost of educational materials. To register, send a check payable to Coles County Extension, to U of I Extension, 707 Windsor Rd., Suite A, Charleston, IL 61920 by Monday, April 2. For questions, contact the Coles County office at 345-7034.
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