| Morel | | Scientific
classification | | |
| Species | Morchella
angusticeps
Morchella conica
Morchella costata
Morchella
crassipes
Morchella elata
Morchella esculenta
Morchella
gigas
Morchella semilibera
Morchella spongiola
Morchella
spongiola var. dunensis
Morchella vulgaris
Morchella
sp. MA4SSI73
Morchella sp. UC 1475091
| The
morel is a famed type of edible cup fungus. The morel produces a highly
porous ascocarp, greatly prized by gourmet cooks. The
best known morel is the Morchella deliciosa, which is commonly known as
just morel. Other types include Morchella esculenta, Morchella elata,
Morchella semilibera, and Morchella vulgaris. The
morel is the state mushroom of Minnesota. When
gathering morels, care must be taken to distinguish them from the poisonous False
Morel (Gyromitra esculenta).
The
morel grows abundantly in the years following forest fires. | 
