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Morel


Morel
Photo Information
Copyright: Rick Price (Adanac) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1111 W: 1 N: 4518] (15132)
Genre: Fungi
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-05-17
Categories: Fungi
Camera: Canon Eos 300D Digital Rebel, Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM
Exposure: f/10.0, 1/160 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-01-25 3:45
Viewed: 689
Points: 34
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I hope I am corect in identifing this as a Morel Mushroom, I found it in the Red Rock area of Wateron Lakes National Park

Morchella
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Morel

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Fungi

Division: Ascomycota

Subdivision: Pezizomycotina

Class: Pezizomycetes

Order: Pezizales

Family: Morchellaceae

Genus: Morchella


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

Morchella, the true morels, is a genus of edible mushrooms closely related to anatomically simpler cup fungi. These distinctive mushrooms appear honeycomb-like in that the upper portion is composed of a network of ridges with pits between them. These ascocarps are prized by gourmet cooks, particularly for French cuisine. Commercial value aside, morels are hunted by thousands of people every year simply for their taste and the joy of the hunt. Morels have been called by many local names; some of the more colorful include dryland fish due to their similarity in taste to fish; and "merkels" or "miracles," based on a story of how a mountain family was saved from starvation by eating morels ("The Day the Sun Came Out" by Dorothy M. Johnson).
Location of morels
The morel grows abundantly in the two and sometimes three years immediately following a forest fire. However, where fire suppression is practiced, they may grow regularly in small amounts in the same spot year after year. Commercial pickers and buyers in North America will follow forest fires to gather morels. The Finnish name, huhtasieni, refers to huhta, area cleared for agriculture by slash and burn method. These spots may be jealously guarded by mushroom pickers, as the mushrooms are a delicacy and sometimes a cash crop. Although no symbiotic relationships have been proven between morels and certain tree species, experienced morel hunters swear by these relationships. Trees commonly associated with morels include ash, sycamore, tuliptree, dead and dying elms, and old apple trees (remnants of orchards). Morels have not yet been successfully farmed on a large scale, and the commercial morel industry is largely based on harvest of wild mushrooms.

Morels are a feature of many cuisines, including Provençal.[1] Though morels are typically sold dried or canned, they can be purchased fresh. When preparing fresh morels, never soak them as this will ruin their delicate flavor.


Types of morel mushrooms
The best known morels are the Yellow Morel or Common Morel (Morchella esculenta); the White Morel (M. deliciosa); and the Black Morel (M. elata). Other common names for morels include Merkel, Sponge Mushroom, and Land Fish. When gathering morels, care must be taken to distinguish them from the poisonous false morel (Gyromitra esculenta and others). Other species of true morels include M. semilibera and M. vulgaris. Discriminating between the various species is complicated by uncertainty regarding which species are truly biologically distinct. Mushroom hunters refer to them by their color (e.g., gray, yellow, black) as the species are very similar in appearance and vary considerably within species and age of individual.
PaulH, eqshannon, MMM, vanderschelden, jaycee, Silke, CeltickRanger, dejo, bobair, Argus, lise has marked this note useful
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ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Silke: WhoopsAdanac 1 01-26 08:35
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • PaulH Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1068 W: 26 N: 3206] (11487)
  • [2008-01-25 4:16]

Hi Rick,
great to see something a little different from you. Interesting that this is called Morel, when i think it looks not to dissimilar to Corel?
Anyway, i realy like the way you've not gone too close to keep that beautiful setting it's sat in in the frame. Also some good detail and nice natrual colours.
tfs and have a good weekend mate.
Paul

Hi Rick
What cool looking mushroom you have here. Never seen before :)
TFS and have nice weekend
Ralf

I am not much of a mushroom eater, but I do find gold in them when ever I can. Apparently they are worth quite a bit to some folks. The summer following a forest fire in thew ilderness, everyone in the know, knows that these will come in, so the woods can sometimes be filled with foragers, including myself. buyers also come in and pay high prices for the foraged goods..a fun and unexpected game in the wilderness..some call them the Phoenix of the forest. All I know is that it was money in my pocket!!:-) A fine image and good enough for identification purposes..there are other kinds of mushrooms which look only similar but one wouldn't want to make a mistake.
Bob

  • Great 
  • MMM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 787 W: 0 N: 1581] (7260)
  • [2008-01-25 7:51]

Hello Rick
Nice presentation.Very well composed image whit beautiful light and colors.The POV is also very nice.

Hi Rick,
Strange 'thing'; could it be that I'm already hallucinating?
Well done
TFS
Annick

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1911 W: 8 N: 4976] (16095)
  • [2008-01-25 9:04]

Hi Rick,

Not only is this a wonderful shot of the mushroom, it is a beautiful picture. I love the composition with the subject surrounded by the pretty leaves and flowers. Fine details of the mushroom with its unusual design. The colors are lovely.

Jane

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1305 W: 0 N: 5107] (15234)
  • [2008-01-25 9:50]

Hi Rick

The detail and exposure here are outstanding. A well observed and composed shot.

TFS

James

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1888 W: 245 N: 6180] (22002)
  • [2008-01-25 12:26]

Hi Rick,
good to see something different from you!
Great shot of this Morel.
I've never seen anything like it!
Good detail and sharpness.
Well done,
Joe

  • Great 
  • Silke Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 753 W: 108 N: 1729] (5398)
  • [2008-01-25 13:44]
  • [+]

Interesting! Are there any similar looking mushrooms tht are not edible?
Excellent colours and fine composition here
TFS
silke

hello Rick

in your image there is a excellent luminosity, a great density of the
colours (i like it), and very well detailed and excellent sharpening, TFS

Asbed

  • Great 
  • demeve Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 515 W: 8 N: 1135] (4182)
  • [2008-01-25 22:08]

Hello Rick,
I have never seen a mushroom like that.. looks like
a little sponge, very well composed and great POV
the colors and details are very beautiful

Everton

Hi Rick,
well this is truly something new for you to upload and I'm glad you did as life here on our good old earth isn't just animals!I like the clear and crisp quality of this photo and those red and familiar red rocks or chips,I have seen before and in person.Waterton National Park-rocks! If this is the edible mushroom,it is one of the best and most expensive things in life to enjoy and eat.A clear and well detailed shot of something that ,to date I never thought you would upload but that goes to show you never can tell.Thank you Rick for showing yet another reason Alberta has something for everyone. Bob

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2770 W: 151 N: 7984] (24857)
  • [2008-01-26 4:00]

Hello Rick,
A fine portrayal of a Morel fungus with good sharpness and well composed growing among Mahonia flowers. Your note is interesting and informative.
We have Morels in Sweden and some species are very good to eat but as some people may be sensitive to their chemistry we are advised to boil them before eating to break down the possible poisons.
Thanks for sharing this and have a good weekend,
Ivan

  • Great 
  • lise Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 184 W: 51 N: 560] (2819)
  • [2008-01-26 4:59]

Hi Rick,
I've never seen a "fresh" morel before, it's beautiful. Great sharpness and details,wonderful natural colours.
Very well done.
Lise

Hi Rick,
Merci de nosu présenter cecette espèce que je ne connais pas.
Bravo
Marie

  • Great 
  • dejo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 355 W: 51 N: 476] (2058)
  • [2008-01-26 13:38]

Hi Rick,
nicelly captured with great details and very good exposure,
nice POV,
lovely pic,
best regards, Dejan

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2008-01-26 20:59]

Hello Rick

A lovely shot of this interesting fungi,it sort of looks like a brain.
The detail and focus is sharp as usual.
Lovely colour saturation.
Very informative post.
TFS

Rob

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