Thick Stemmed Morel

  • cap is convoluted with pits and ridges
  • ridges initially yellowish, then darken
  • cap and stem form one hollow chamber
  • stem is coarse and has folds
  • grows in non-burned montane forests
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Look-alikes in Washington

The poisonous false morels (various species of Gyromitra and Helvella) as well as the not-recommended Verpa bohemica differ in that the cap and stem do not form a single, continuous, hollow chamber. All true morels (species of Morchella) are edible when properly cooked. A number of other true morels can have a similar appearance, and are sometimes difficult to differentiate in the field, but do not generally match all the key characteristics.

See also M. brunnea and M. frustrata, which also grow in non-burned forests.

Related topics: Edible Plants of PNW - Edible Berries of PNW - Edible Seashore of PNW
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