Common Morel - Morchella esculenta

Description

The Common Morel has fruitbodies with a single central hollow in the head and stem.  The head is rounded or oval, made up of irregular pits forming a honeycomb which is fully connected to the stem. The heads are pale brown, yellowish or darker brown, and the stem is paler. 

Similar Species

Morchella elata, the Black Morel, has a more conical head with longitudinal ridges and is usually darker.   The head of the Semifree Morel Morchella semilibera is attached to the stem only in the upper part.  Morels in other genus do not have a sngle central hollow in stem and head. 

Identification difficulty
Recording advice

Photograph in habitat; note substrate and associated tree species

Habitat

Scrub, woodland, waste ground; under trees.  Often with elm, poplar or ash

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

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Species profile

Common names
Morel
Species group:
fungus
Kingdom:
Fungi
Order:
Pezizales
Family:
Morchellaceae
Records on NatureSpot:
3
First record:
25/04/2010 (Calow, Graham)
Last record:
13/04/2020 (Mabbett, Craig)

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