When I lived in Mt. Shasta in season we often walked the forests when the Morels were ripe and gathered them. They have to be my favorite mushroom of all cooked in butter. Amazing!
Unfortunately you can not buy them in a store anywhere I know of you simply have to be lucky when they are ripe in the forest and go pick some in a remote forest somewhere before someone else does.
begin quote from:
Morel - Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morchella
Morchella
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Morel mushroom)
"Morel" redirects here. For other uses, see Morel (disambiguation).
Morel | |
---|---|
A black morel in Poland | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Fungi |
Division: | Ascomycota |
Class: | Pezizomycetes |
Order: | Pezizales |
Family: | Morchellaceae |
Genus: | Morchella Dill. ex Pers. : Fr. (1794) |
Type species | |
Morchella esculenta (L.) Pers. : Fr. (1801) |
|
Species | |
~70 worldwide (see text) |
|
Synonyms[1] | |
Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz) | |
---|---|
Energy | 129 kJ (31 kcal) |
5.1 g
|
|
Sugars | 0.6 g |
Dietary fiber | 2.8 g |
0.57 g
|
|
3.12 g
|
|
Vitamins | |
Thiamine (B1) |
(6%)
0.069 mg |
Riboflavin (B2) |
(17%)
0.205 mg |
Niacin (B3) |
(15%)
2.252 mg |
Pantothenic acid (B5) |
(9%)
0.44 mg |
Vitamin B6 |
(10%)
0.136 mg |
Folate (B9) |
(2%)
9 μg |
Vitamin D |
(34%)
5.1 μg |
Minerals | |
Calcium |
(4%)
43 mg |
Iron |
(94%)
12.18 mg |
Magnesium |
(5%)
19 mg |
Manganese |
(28%)
0.587 mg |
Phosphorus |
(28%)
194 mg |
Potassium |
(9%)
411 mg |
Zinc |
(21%)
2.03 mg |
|
|
|
|
Percentages are roughly approximated using US recommendations for adults. Source: USDA Nutrient Database |
Typified by Morchella esculenta in 1794, the genus has been the source of considerable taxonomical controversy throughout the years, mostly with regards to the number of species involved, with some mycologists recognising as few as three species and others over thirty. Current molecular phylogenetics suggest there might be over seventy species of Morchella worldwide, most of them exhibiting high continental endemism and provincialism.
The genus is currently the focus of extensive phylogenetic, biogeographical, taxonomical and nomenclatural studies, and several new species have been described from Australia, Canada, Cyprus, Israel, North America, Spain and Turkey.
Contents
Early history
Morchella Dill. ex Pers. : Fr. was typified by Christiaan Hendrik Persoon in 1794,[2] with Morchella esculenta designated as the type species for the genus. Among early pioneers who took an interest in the genus, were mycologists Julius Vincenz von Krombholz and Émile Boudier, who, in 1834[3] and 1897[4] respectively, published several species and varieties, accompanied by meticulously illustrated iconographic plates. The seminal taxon Morchella elata, whose true identity still remains unresolved,[5] was described by Elias Fries in 1822, from a fir forest in Sweden.[6] Other classical, early-proposed names include Morchella deliciosa, also described by Fries in 1822, Morchella semilibera, the half-free morel, originally described by de Candolle and sanctioned by Fries in 1822,[6] Morchella vulgaris, which was recombined by Samuel Gray as a distinct species in 1821[7] following a forma of M. esculenta previously proposed by Persoon, and Morchella angusticeps, a large-spored species described by American mycologist Charles Peck in 1887.[8] Morchella purpurascens, the purple morel, was first described by Boudier as a variety of M. elata in 1897 based on a 1834 plate by Krombholz, and was recombined as a distinct species in 1985 by Emile Jacquetant.[9][10] Morchella eximia, a globally-occurring fire-associated species was also described by Boudier in 1910.[11] The old, widely applied name Morchella conica,[12] featuring in many field guides and literature across several countries, has been shown by Richard and colleagues to be illegitimate.[5]Classification
Phylogeny
Early phylogenetic analyses supported the hypothesis that the genus comprises only a few species with considerable phenotypic variation.[13][14][15] Subsequent multigenic DNA studies, however, have revealed more than a dozen genealogically distinct species in North America and at least as many in Europe.[16][17][18][5] DNA studies revealed three discrete clades, or genetic groups, consisting of the "white morels" (Morchella rufobrunnea and Morchella anatolica), the "yellow morels" (Morchella esculenta and others), and the "black morels" (Morchella elata and others).[17] The fire-associated species Morchella tomentosa, commonly known as the "gray morel", is distinct for its fine hairs on the cap ridges and unique sclerotia-like underground structures, and may also deserve its own clade based on DNA evidence.[19][20][21] Within the yellow and black clades, there are dozens of distinct species, most endemic to individual continents or regions.[17] This species-rich view is supported by studies in Western Europe,[22] Turkey,[23] Cyprus,[24] Israel,[25] China,[26] Patagonia[27] and the Himalayas.[28]Taxonomy
The fruit bodies of Morchella species are highly polymorphic, varying in shape, color and size, while in many cases they do not exhibit clear-cut distinguishing features microscopically; this has historically contributed to uncertainties in taxonomy.[29][30][31] Discriminating between the various taxa described, is further hindered by uncertainty over which of these are truly biologically distinct. Remarkably, some authors in the past had suggested that the genus contains as few as 3 to 6 species,[32][33][34][35][36] while others recognised as many as 34.[4][9][37] Efforts to clarify the situation and re-evaluate old classical names (such as Morchella elata and others) in accordance to current phylogenetic data, have been challenging, due to vague or ambiguous original descriptions and loss of holotype material.[5][38] In 2012, the simultaneous description of several new taxa from Europe by Clowez[37] and North America by Kuo and colleagues[39] resulted in several synonymities further complicating matters, until a transatlantic study by Richard and colleagues resolved many of these issues in 2014.[5] The genus is currently undergoing extensive re-evaluation with regards to the taxonomic status of several species.Species
About 80 species of Morchella were described until the turn of the century (http://www.indexfungorum.org/), a number of which were later shown to be illegitimate or synonyms.[5] As molecular tools became widely available in the new millennium, a revived interest in the genus commenced and several new species were proposed. In 2008 Kuo described Morchella tomentosa from burned coniferous forests in western North America.[20] In 2010 Işiloğlu and colleagues described Morchella anatolica,[40] a basal species from Turkey later shown to be sister to Morchella rufobrunnea. A study by Clowez described over 20 new species in 2012.[37] In the same year, another study by Kuo and colleagues described 19 species from North America,[39] while molecular phylogenetics currently suggest there are over 60 species of Morchella worldwide.[26] An extensive taxonomical and nomenclatural revision of the genus provided by Richard and colleagues in 2014, applied names to 30 of the genealogical lineages recognized so far and clarified several synonymities.[5] Also in 2014, Elliott and colleagues described Morchella australiana from sclerophyll forests in Australia,[41] while Clowez and colleagues described Morchella fluvialis from riparian forests in Spain.[42] In 2015, Loizides and colleagues clarified the taxonomy of Morchella tridentina, a cosmopolitan species described under many names, and recombined Morchella kakiicolor as a distinct species.[38] Later in the same year, Clowez and colleagues described Morchella palazonii from Spain,[43] while Voitk and colleagues described Morchella laurentiana from Canada and Morchella eohespera, a cosmopolitan species present in several continents.[44] In an extensive phylogenetic and morphological study from Cyprus in 2016, Loizides and colleagues added two more Mediterranean species, Morchella arbutiphila and Morchella disparilis, and resurrected Morchella dunensis as an autonomous species.[24] In the same year, Taşkın and colleagues described four of the previously unnamed phylospecies from Turkey: Morchella conifericola, Morchella feekensis, Morchella magnispora and Morchella mediteterraneensis.[45]Section Rufobrunnea
Section Morchella
- Morchella americana
- Morchella castaneae
- Morchella diminutiva
- Morchella dunensis
- Morchella esculenta
- synonyms: Morchella pseudoumbrina, Morchella pseudoviridis
- Morchella fluvialis
- Morchella galilaea
- Morchella palazonii
- Morchella prava
- Morchella sceptriformis
- synonym: Morchella virginiana
- Morchella steppicola
- Morchella ulmaria
- synonym: Morchella cryptica
- Morchella vulgaris
Section Distantes
- Morchella angusticeps
- Morchella arbutiphila
- Morchella australiana
- Morchella brunnea
- Morchella conifericola
- Morchella deliciosa
- synonym: Morchella conica
- Morchella disparilis
- Morchella dunalii
- synonym: Morchella fallax
- Morchella elata
- Morchella eohespera
- Morchella eximia
- Morchella eximioides
- Morchella exuberans
- synonym: Morchella capitata
- Morchella feekensis
- Morchella importuna
- Morchella kakiicolor
- Morchella laurentiana
- Morchella magnispora
- Morchella mediteterraneensis
- Morchella populiphila
- Morchella pulchella
- Morchella punctipes
- Morchella purpurascens
- Morchella semilibera
- synonyms: Morchella gigas, Morchella gigas var. tintinnabulum, Morchella hybrida, Morchella undosa, Morchella varisiensis, Morchella esculenta var. crassipes, Phallus gigas, Eromitra gigas, Phallus undosus, Phallus crassipes, Mitrophora hybrida, Mitrophora hybrida var. crassipes, Ptychoverpa gigas, Helvella hybrida
- Morchella septentrionalis
- Morchella sextelata
- Morchella snyderi
- Morchella tomentosa
- Morchella tridentina
Unresolved classification
- Morchella anteridiformis
- Morchella apicata
- Morchella bicostata
- Morchella conicopapyracea
- Morchella crassipes
- Morchella deqinensis
- Morchella distans
- Morchella guatemalensis
- Morchella herediana
- Morchella hetieri
- Morchella hortensis
- Morchella hotsonii
- Morchella hungarica
- Morchella inamoena
- Morchella intermedia
- Morchella meiliensis
- Morchella miyabeana
- Morchella neuwirthii
- Morchella norvegiensis
- Morchella patagonica
- Morchella patula
- Morchella pragensis
- Morchella procera
- Morchella pseudovulgaris
- Morchella rielana
- Morchella rigida
- Morchella rigidoides
- Morchella smithiana
- Morchella sulcata
- Morchella tasmanica
- Morchella tatari
- Morchella tibetica
- Morchella umbrina
- Morchella umbrinovelutipes
- Morchella vaporaria
Ecology, phenology and distribution
Tree species associated with Morchela vary greatly depending on the individual species, continent, or region. Trees commonly associated with morels in Europe and across the Mediterranean include Abies (fir), Pinus (pine), Populus (poplar), Ulmus (elm), Quercus (oak), Arbutus (strawberry trees), Castanea (chestnut), Alnus (alder), Olea (olive trees), Malus (apple trees) and Fraxinus (ash).[37][24][38][18] In western North America morels are often found in coniferous forests, including species of Pinus (pine), Abies (fir), Larix (larch), and Pseudotsuga (Douglas-fir), as well as in Populus (cottonwood) riparian forests.[54][39] Deciduous trees commonly associated with morels in the northern hemisphere include Fraxinus (ash), Platanus (sycamore), Liriodendron (tulip tree), dead and dying elms, cottonwoods and old apple trees (remnants of orchards).[39] Due to their springtime phenology (March–May), morels are hardly ever found in the vicinity of common poisonous mushrooms such as the death cap (Amanita phalloides), the sulphur tuft (Hypholoma fasciculare), or the fly agaric (Amanita muscaria).[55] They can, however, occur alongside false morels (Gyromitra and Verpa species) and elfin saddles (Helvella species), which also appear in spring.
Efforts to cultivate morels at a large scale have rarely been successful and the commercial morel industry relies on the harvest of wild mushrooms.[54]
Association with wildfire
Transcontinental species
Although the majority of species within Morchella exhibit a high continental endemism and provincialism,[17] several species have been phylogenetically shown to be present in more than one continents. So far, the list of transcontinental species includes M. americana, M. eohespera, M. eximia, M. exuberans, M. galilaea, M. importuna, M. rufobrunnea, M. semilibera, M. sextelata and M. tridentina.[26][5][24] The reasons behind the widespread, cosmopolitan distribution of these species, are still puzzling. Some authors have hypothesized that such transcontinental occurrences are the result of accidental anthropogenic introductions,[23][17] but this view has been disputed by others, who suggested an old and natural distribution of these species.[38][24] Long-distance spore dispersal has also been suggested as a possible dispersal mechanism for some species, especially those belonging to fire-adapted lineages.[58]Morels in popular culture
Every spring, hundreds of morel enthusiasts gather in Boyne City, Michigan for the National Morel Mushroom Festival, an event which has been taking place for over half a century now.[59] Such gatherings serve as meeting points for morel pilgrims, collectors, friends and tourists alike, who come together to share stories, experiences, enjoy exotic morel recipes and engage in morel hunting. As Kuo puts it, "if there is a modern, North American reenactment of Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales this is it."[60] Other festivals and hunting competitions in North America include the Illinois State Morel Mushroom Hunting Championship and the Ottawa Midwest Morel Fest.Vernacular names
Morchella species have been called by many local names; some of the more colorful include dryland fish, because when sliced lengthwise then breaded and fried, their outline resembles the shape of a fish;[61] hickory chickens, as they are known in many parts of Kentucky; and merkels or miracles, based on folklore, of how a mountain family was saved from starvation by eating morels. In parts of West Virginia, they are known as molly moochers or muggins. Due to the partial structural and textural similarity to some species of Porifera (sponges), another common name for any true morel is sponge mushroom.[citation needed] The Finnish vernacular name huhtasieni, refers to huhta, area cleared for agriculture by the slash and burn method.[62]The scientific name of the genus Morchella itself, is thought to have derived from morchel,[63] an old German word for "mushroom" (this may be another source for the name "merkel"), while the word "morel" is derived from the Latin maurus, meaning "brown".[citation needed]
Gastronomical value and culinary uses
See also: § Toxicity
Drying is a popular and effective method for long-term storage, and morels are widely available commercially in this form. Any insect larvae which might be present in the fruit bodies usually drops out during the drying process.[67] Dried morels can then be reconstituted by soaking for 10-20 minutes in warm water or milk, and the soaking liquid can be used as stock.[68]
The supreme flavour of morels is not just appreciated by humans; in Yellowstone National Park, black morels are also known to be consumed by grizzly bears (Ursus arctos horribilis).[69]
Toxicity
Morchella species contain small amounts of hydrazine[70] toxins that are destroyed through cooking; because of this, morels should never be eaten raw.[71] It has been reported that even cooked morels can sometimes cause symptoms of upset stomach when consumed with alcohol.[72]When eating this fungus for the first time it is wise to consume a small amount to minimize any allergic reaction. As with all fungi, morels for consumption must be clean and free of decay. Morels growing in old apple orchards that had been treated with the insecticide lead arsenate may accumulate levels of toxic lead and arsenic that are unsuitable for human consumption.[73]
False morels
Main article: False morel
When gathering morels for the table, care must be taken to distinguish them from the poisonous "false morels", a term loosely applied to describe Gyromitra esculenta, Verpa bohemica,
and other morel lookalikes. Although false morels are sometimes eaten
without ill effect, they can cause severe gastrointestinal upset, loss
of muscular coordination (including cardiac muscle), or even death.[74][75] Incidents of poisoning
usually occur when they are eaten in large quantities, inadequately
cooked, or over several days in a row. False morels contain gyromitrin, an organic carcinogenic poison, hydrolyzed in the body into monomethylhydrazine (MMH).[76] Gyromitra esculenta has been reported to be responsible for up to 23% of mushroom fatalities each year in Poland.[77]The key morphological features distinguishing false morels from true morels are as follows:
- Gyromitra species often have a "wrinkled" or "cerebral" (brain-like) appearance to the cap due to multiple wrinkles and folds, rather than the honeycomb appearance of true morels due to ridges and pits.
- Gyromitra esculenta has a cap that is usually reddish-brown in colour, but sometimes also chestnut, purplish-brown, or dark brown.
- Gyromitra species are typically chambered in longitudinal section, while Verpa species contain a cottony substance inside their stem, in contrast to true morels which are always hollow.
- The caps of Verpa species (V. bohemica, V. conica and others) are attached to the stem only at the apex (top of the cap), unlike true morels which have caps that are attached to the stem at, or near the base of the cap. The easiest way to distinguish Verpa species from Morchella species is to slice them longitudinally.[78][60]
References
- Kuo M. (2007). 100 Edible Mushrooms. Ann Arbor, Michigan: The University of Michigan Press. pp. 55–58. ISBN 0-472-03126-0.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Morchella. |
- Morchella in Index Fungorum
- [1]
- MushroomExpert.com's Morel section
- A Beginner's Guide to Hunting Morel Mushrooms, from Field and Stream
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