These posts are not for foraging. They are intended for entertainment and educational purposes only. These posts are not a field guide nor comprehensive in any way - their accuracy is not assured in any way. Do not eat wild mushrooms unless you are a professional or have a wealth of personal experience with a specific species. Do not make any foraging decisions based on these posts.
Why write about Gyromitra esculenta, or the False Morel, before writing about real Morels? First, it's been awhile since I've written about a poisonous mushroom, and they're always a lot of fun.
But I also think G.esculenta is a particularly awesome poisonous mushroom. First, it looks like a brain growing on the dirt. And second, it produces a unique mycotoxin that your body turns into, literally, rocket fuel. How's that for a claim to fame?
G.esculenta can mostly be found throughout Northern North America and in northern Europe. The mushroom seems to prefer coniferous forests and mountainous areas, however Wikipedia and Michael Kuo place it in areas that don't fit that description, and as far south as Mexico. Everyone agrees it is a spring mushroom extending only to mid summer - April to July.
The reason it is commonly referred to as a "false morel" is because it shares many of the same distribution and habitat characteristics. Plus, all things considered, it looks pretty morel-like.
The photo on the left is a G.esculenta. The photo on the right is a Morel.
Superman fans out there will appreciate it when I say that G.esculenta is like the bizarro version of a morel: uglier, meaner and more toxic.
However, like bizarro Superman, false morels do bear a resemblance to actual Morels, and it is important to know how to distinguish them. The biggest difference is the relative symmetry of a morel compared to G.esculenta. Whereas false morels often look like a mishapen mass of swollen brain matter, as you can see above, a true morel has a consistent conical shape and an overall more pitted look to them, as opposed to a series of folds.
Both morels and false morels come in a variety of colors and often grow in the same climes and forests and during the same seasons. Your best bet is to follow the iconic physical shape of the morel. If that means leaving behind a slightly mishapen morel in the name of safety, then so be it.
Let's talk toxicity.
G.esculenta is a fairly controversial mushroom. This is likely because, as with any naturally occurring organism, the specific toxicity of a given mushroom can vary dependant on any number of factors. The result is that some people eat G.esculenta and have no ill effects, while others are poisoned and even die.
Gyromitrin
The main culprit in this species of mushroom is a mycotoxin called Gyromitrin. If you've noticed a similarity between the genus Gyromitra and the name of this toxin, you may be on to something.
Gyromitrin is unique to the Gyromitra genus of mushrooms. Although there are other toxic compounds in G.esculenta, Gyromitrin is the one found most consistently and in the largest quantities.
As with many mycotoxins, Gyromitrin is not, in a chemical sense, directly harmful to the human body. The actual chemical which poisons you is called monomethylhydrazine ("MMH"). This stuff is not intended for human consumption and it is - no joke - used as part of rocket fuel. (Brief explanation.)
Gyromitrin Poisoning Symptoms
When you eat Gyromitrin, your body naturally processes it into MMH. Unfortunately for anyone unlucky enough to get a dose of MMH, this stuff isn't good for you.
Within 6-12 hours of ingesting a false morel which contains Gyromitrin, your body will begin to produce MMH.First, you get the normal trifecta of nausea, vomitting and diarrhea. But then the MMH starts to mess with neurotransmitters in your head, and you experience nueurological symptoms. You may get dizzy, feel lathargic, experience vertigo or get a headache. You may even get a fever.
A lot of people don't progress past this point and, after a few days, their symptoms subside. However, MMH is also a known carcinogen, so even these people may have exposed themselves to an increased cancer risk.
However, like the [Destroying Angel], sometimes the initial symptoms subside only to be replaced soon after by kidney and liver damage. This appears to be caused by your body further processing the chemicals in the false morel. Alternatively, or concurrently, the poisoned individual will experience seizures or slip into a coma.
In the most serious cases, either due to a high level of gyromitrin ingested or particular sensitivity, these symptoms - either neurological or liver/kidney based - will spiral out of control, resulting in liver/kidney failure and or fatal respiratory arrest within 5 - 7 days after ingestion.
There are some treatments. For the gastronintenstinal issues it's mostly supportive - hydration, activated charcoal. The neurological symptoms can be addressed more directly with vitamin b6 suplementation. The real dillemma, as with many Amanitas, is the organ damage, which mostly involves crossing your fingers and hoping for the best.
If They're Deadly Poisonous, Who In Their Right Mind Is Selling These Mushrooms?
This is where things get complicated: Either not every G.esculenta is super poisonous or par boiling eliminates much the poison.
There is some speculation that the amount of poison in a given mushroom differs depending on the altitude of the specimen's habitat. There is also some evidence that drying and/or many rounds of parboiling the mushroom can get rid of the gyromitrin. Taking G.esculenta from a global perspective, it's all basically a crap shoot.
Fact is, a number of people in a number of countries eat these mushrooms, even as several European countries have outlawed the sale of G.esculenta. Apparently in Finland it is particularly popular and can be legally sold as long as there is a warning sign explaining the dangers and how to cook them.
However, even parboiling seems like a terrible idea because there's also anecdotal mention of being poisoned by the gyromitrin vapors coming off the mushrooms.
TL:DR: Most mycologists, and many governments, agree that G.esculenta is poisonous and carcinogenic. Although some people, especially the Finns, seem to enjoy eating them with extensive preparation, it seems like a terribly dangerous and reckless idea and I can't possibly recommend trying it. I, like many European countries, consider them potentially deadly poisonous.
Macroscopic Features:
Cap/Flesh = 4-10 cm high, 3-15 cm wide. Smoother at the start, it eventually becomes wrinkly as it matures. Often extensively wrinkled and looks like a brain. Sometimes saddle shaped, sometimes not. Colors vary: red, purple, brown, golden brown, pinkish tan, reddish brown (you get the picture). But, as they get old, they turn very dark, almost black and can dry up and last on the ground for sometime. The flesh itself is thin.
Spore surface = Spores come out of the cap itself, in between the folds from what I gather - I imagine a print can be retrieved by simply placing the cap on a surface for a time. If anyone knows better please let me know.
Stem ("stipe") = 3-9cm high, 2-3.5 wide, color ranges from yellow, tan, rose - or cap colored - often lighter than the cap. Often twisted and rounded at the edges. Wikipedia indicates it is hollow, no mention on Kuo's site.
Spore Print = yellow
Ecology ("How it grows.") = OK definitely saprobic - but Michael Kuo indicates it could also be mycorrizal sometimes. If the latter, probably with conifers.
Distribution = All over the Northern US and Europe - often in mountainous areas, but also low lying areas as well. Often in conifer forests, but also in deciduous forests as well. Widely dispersed.
Other Traits = Poisonous. The most common lookalike for the more symmetrical and distinctly pitted Morel mushroom, which we will talk about soon.
Have a Mushroom you want help identifying? - leave a message on the Steemit Mycology discord channel.
https://discord.gg/JJgEW2y
For The Online Mycokey program look Here
For A Crash Course On How To Identify A Mushroom Read The Amatuer Mycologist #3
For a Glossary Of Relevant Mycological Terms, Micheal Kuo's Website Provides
Information Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gyromitra_esculenta#Biochemistry
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gyromitrin
http://www.mushroomexpert.com/gyromitra_esculenta.html
http://blog.crazyaboutmushrooms.com/gyromitra-genus-brain-fungus-mushroom-poisoning/
Photo Sources:
[1]By Kruczy89 Own work CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
[2]By Giftlorchel.jpg: Lebrac derivative work: Ak ccm Giftlorchel.jpg CC BY-SA 3.0
[3]By Jason Hollinger Flickr: False Morel CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
[4]CC3
[5]Beentree own work CC 4.0
[6]By Tatiana Bulyonkova from Novosibirsk, Russia Gyromitra esculenta CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
[7]By Giorgiogp2 Own work CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
[8]By NASA Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
[9]By Ilmari Karonen Own work CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The yunking continues. Find me the yunkite who does not like a mushroom and i will eat my yunking boot.