Morchella conica

Description

Morchella conica is a type of fungus in the Morchellaceae family. It has a distinct appearance with a conical shape, longitudinal, and transversal ribs, similar to a honeycomb. It is brown-gray or dark brown with purple tones, and the ribs are straight and blackish. The stem is cylindrical, hollow, wrinkled, and often swollen at the base, starting whitish and turning brown with age. The flesh is thin, whitish, and somewhat cartilaginous on the stem, emitting a pleasant fruity smell. The spores are yellowish.

M. conica is commonly found in bark mulch, alluvial forests, parks, gardens, forest edges, burn spots, and forest meadows. It acts as a secondary decomposer in its environment.

This mushroom is conditionally edible. It contains unknown thermolabile toxins. It should be boiled for 20 minutes before use. It can be cooked in various ways, such as boiling, frying, or drying.

The name M. conica was initially introduced in 1818 by mycologist Christian Hendrik Persoon but was later considered an unnecessary name for the existing species Morchella continua.

Common names: Black Morel, Netherlands (Gedroogde Morilles), France (Mycélium de Morille Conique).

Mushroom Identification

1. Fruit Bodies

   Elongated-conical, consisting of a cap and a stem fused together, with a common cavity.

2. Cap

   The cap is 0.79 to 2.76 inches (2 to 7 cm) high, 0.59 to 1.57 inches (1.5 to 4 cm) in diameter, conical and elongated, with a sharp top. It is cellular, reticulated, hollow, and attached to the stem by the edges. The cells are elongated and of regular shape, rounded or diamond-shaped, with well-defined ribs. The surface of the cap is spore-bearing and varies in color from brown to brown-brown. The edges are always darker, black-brown.

3. Stem

   The stem is 0.79 to 1.57 inches (2 to 4 cm) high, 0.39 to 0.79 inches (1 to 2 cm) in diameter, cylindrical, hollow, and light-colored, appearing whitish or yellowish.

4. Flesh

   The flesh is thin, tight, light, and without a pronounced smell.

5. Spores

   Asci are 250 * 15-18 μm, cylindrical, and 8-spored. Spores are 18-21 * 12-15 μm, elliptical and rounded, colorless, arranged in one row.

6. Spore Print

   The spore powder is yellowish.

7. Habitat

   It grows from the end of April to the middle of May in coniferous and mixed forests, as well as in glades and on the edges of forests, among aspens. It is mainly found on sandy soils, occurring both singly and in groups, although it is rarely encountered.

Look-Alikes

1. Morchella esculenta and Morchella vulgaris

   Differ in the non-elongated shape of the cap and the geometry of the cells.

Synonyms

1. Morchella conica Pers., 1818

2. Morchella contigua Tratt.

3. Morilla conica (Persoon) Quélet, 1886

Photo sources:

Photo 1 - Author: Grzegorz Browarski (CC Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International)

Photo 2 - Author: Grzegorz Browarski (CC Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International)

Photo 3 - Author: GLJIVARSKO DRUSTVO NIS (CC Attribution 2.0 Generic)

Photo 4 - Author: GLJIVARSKO DRUSTVO NIS (CC Attribution 2.0 Generic)