Deliciosa Morels (Morchella species)

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by Michael Kuo

"Deliciosa Morels" are small or medium-sized yellow morels with frequently pointed caps, featuring sparse ridges and pits that are usually arranged more or less vertically. They are apparently limited to eastern North America's hardwood forests, where they are often found under tulip trees, hickories, and ash--though they are also found under other trees.

The North American Deliciosas are edible and good, though they are often a little bit small when compared to the meatier Classic Yellow Morels. In my experience the deliciosas are good candidates for drying whole, and they make for wonderful "morel hunting" in your kitchen cabinets over the winter.

Study of morels in the Morel Data Collection Project has revealed two deliciosa morels in North America. One of these (Taxon 2) may be more common and widespread than the other (Taxon 3), but it is too early to say this with scientific certainty. Collections of these mushrooms also suggest the possibility that they may be separable on the basis of their physical features--but, again, not enough collections have been studied to eliminate the possibility that the two deliciosas are variable in appearance and mere coincidence makes the MDCP collections appear distinct.

North American mushroom guides often use the name Morchella deliciosa for the morels I am describing here--but guides also use the name to describe other morels. Western authors have used the name to describe Morchella rufobrunnea (before Morchella rufobrunnea was published as a species in 1998 and found by MDCP researchers to be a genetic match to some West-Coast morels in 2003); some eastern authors have used the name erroneously to describe immature, white-ridged forms of the Classic Yellow Morels. Weber's 1995 concept of Morchella deliciosa, which I reiterate in my book Morels (2005), is in line with the original 1822 description of the species by Elias Fries. However, the "true" Morchella deliciosa is a European species that has not been compared, genetically, to any North American morels--and which probably cannot be compared until mycologists re-interpret the species and collect a new "type" for comparison.

Description:

Ecology: Probably mycorrhizal and saprobic at different points in its life cycle; found under hardwoods; known especially for associations with hickories, tulip trees, and ash; spring; widely distributed in eastern North America.

Cap: 1.5-5 cm; variable in shape but generally conical and pointed, at least when mature; pitted and ridged, with the pits and ridges usually elongated vertically; pale when young; when mature with tan to yellowish ridges and similarly colored (or darker) pits; without a substantial "rim" at the point of attachment to the stem; hollow.

Stem: 2-5 (10) cm; whitish to yellowish or pale tan; equal, sometimes slightly flaring to apex; sometimes discoloring brownish or tan; smooth or with granules; hollow.

Spore Print: Pale yellow to orange.

Microscopic Features: Spores 21-24 x 12.5-14 µ; smooth, elliptical, without oil droplets.

REFERENCES: (Smith, Smith & Weber, 1981; Weber & Smith, 1985; Weber, 1995; Kuo 2005.)

Further Online Information:

Taxon 2 in the MDCP
Taxon 3 in the MDCP
Tom Volk: The Morel Life Cycle

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Cite this page as:

Kuo, M. (2006, April). Deliciosa morels (Morchella species). Retrieved from the MushroomExpert.Com Web site: http://www.mushroomexpert.com/morchella_deliciosas.html.