62 Nebraskaland • May 2024
MIXED BAG
KNOW YOUR MORELS
By Tim Reigert
April and May are prime morel mushroom hunting times
in Nebraska. And there is nothing as delicious as morel
mushrooms soaked in salty water and then fried in butter
and garlic.
But did you know that there are "false" morels? Many
don't. Several species of false morels are toxic, but they are
easily distinguished from edible morels of the Morchella
genus.
False morels have wrinkled to nearly smooth heads
without distinct pits and ridges, hence the common name,
brain mushroom. False morels are usually more round and
grow closer to the ground than true morels.
The fruiting head of many false morels is thin and brittle,
not thick and fleshy as with true morels. Eating false morels
can cause illness, but those found in North America are
seldom lethal.
False morels can be found throughout the growing season.
Carefully study the illustrations below. To avoid illness,
do not consume any mushroom that you can't positively
identify.
T r u e M o r e l s
The base of the fruiting head of a true morel is attached
to the stalk and the stalk is hollow.
The fruiting heads of false morels are attached to the top
of the stalk and hang down around the stalk like a skirt.
Often, but not always, the stalk is fi lled with cottony or
pithy material. ILLUSTRATIONS BY TIM REIGERT
F a l s e M o r e l s
