Oh, the joy of the elusive morel mushroom season! Every year, hunters prepare for the season, testing the temperature of the air and ground, scouting their favorite locations, checking leaf and ground litter cover, looking for signs in other plants in the environment, and crossing their fingers for a good and bountiful harvest. But, a good hunter never reveals their location! Not even my grandpa ever told me his secret hunting spots.
Evolutionarily speaking, the morel derived itself from a simple yeast (a tiny fungus) at the beginning of the most recent ice age. That’s only about 10,000 years ago! So relatively speaking the morel is fairly young in its existence. The morel was first described by a mycologist in 1794, but scientists couldn’t agree if there was just one genus or several species, given the considerable variation in physical appearances between mushrooms. Now, it is commonly accepted that there are 18 different “clades,” or species of morels in the United States. Many old timers still argue as to which morel is which, and if they are the same species or just phenotypic variations of the same species. But still, others agree there are whites, grays, blacks, and yellows.
With that said, each of the colors mentioned above has specific characteristics that can be used to classify them. Some morels come up earlier than others, while some cling late to the season, like the half-free morel mushroom. Some morels have certain environmental factors to look for, like Virginia Bluebells, ash trees, cottonwood trees, and soil conditions. The season itself runs from early to mid-April to mid to late May, depending on weather conditions.
If you want to take a closer look at Morel Mushrooms, join us at 10 a.m. Saturday in Classroom A. We will learn in detail all things morel mushroom. Bring your questions, comments, and of course your mushroom hunting stories! Record your important observations and illustrations in your nature journal. Supplies will be provided.
CDPL also has a couple of morel mushroom books hidden away in the stacks, but our reference staff will be happy to locate them for you, so they are not as elusive in the library as they are in the wild. Titles to search include “Morel Hunting” by John Maybrier (641.358 May) and “Morel Mushrooms: Best Kept Secrets Revealed” by Michael Phillips (579.6 Phi). Don’t forget the great selection, “How to Forage for Mushrooms without Dying” by Frank Hyman (579.6 Hym).
Morels are such a delicacy that people literally will spend a lot of their hard-earned cash for prime fresh mushrooms. Dried morels can be rehydrated and used just as fresh ones, but cost even more. Each morel hunter has their favorite recipes, but the best hands-down Hoosier recipe is simply breaded and fried in butter. No condiments are needed!
We look forward to your attendance at our morel mushroom program, so you can maximize your time in the woods hunting these delicious fungi! For tips and tricks, ask our Library Naturalist to share her experiences. You can always call the CDPL information desk with questions at 765-362-2242, Ext. 117. The library is open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and 1-5 p.m. Sunday.
Stephanie Morrissette is an avid naturalist and a library assistant in the Adult Services Department at the Crawfordsville District Public Library.
