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ASCOMYCETES<br />
margin free, yellowish brown to reddish brown, the surface usually promi-<br />
nently ridged and reticulated, stipe 1-5 in. long, %-l in. thick, whitish to<br />
yellowish, glabrous to somewhat floccose, especially toward the base, stuffed<br />
becoming hollow, cyhndric or somewhat compressed, asci cyhndric, two-<br />
spored, 200-325 X 18-24 (27)<br />
ju- ascospores yellowish in deposits, ellipsoid,<br />
one-celled, smooth, (45) 50-75 (84) X 15-22 m-<br />
Singly or gregarious on the ground in open woods. May.<br />
This fungus might be mistaken for a morel and it has been called Mor-<br />
chella bispora Sor. but the attachment of the pileus to the upper end of the<br />
stipe and the free margin distinguish it. Morchella semilibera (DC.) Fr. is<br />
attached part way up the stipe and has the margin free but is a smaller plant.<br />
The two-spored asci with very large spores are characteristic of this species.<br />
Another species of Verpa, V. conica (Miill.) Swartz, is a smaller plant<br />
with a smooth, oHve-tinged pileus, and eight-spored asci with much smaller<br />
spores. It is found at the same time of the year in about the same type of<br />
habitat,<br />
GYROMITRA ESCULENTA Fr. Can be poisonous<br />
Figure 379, page 281 ; Figure 429, page 305<br />
False Morel<br />
PILEUS 1-3 in. broad, variable and irregular in shape, usually more or less<br />
lobed and the surface irregularly wrinkled, folded, or convoluted, but not<br />
pitted, reddish brown to dark brown, stipe 54-2 in. long, )^-l in. thick,<br />
whitish, fragile, usually somewhat compressed and grooved, hollow, glabrous<br />
to shghtly floccose. asci cyhndric, eight-spored, 225-325 X 15-18 ^l. asco-<br />
spores eUipsoid, one-celled, smooth, (17) 20-28 X 11-16 (17) ju.<br />
On the ground in woods, associated with conifers. May-June.<br />
This fungus has been the subject of much controversy, both concerning its<br />
identity and its edible qualities. Seaver (1928, 1942) claimed that G. esculenta<br />
and G. infula are both forms of the same species but this has been disputed by<br />
Kanouse (1948) on what appears to be convincing evidence that is also borne<br />
out by my personal observation. They are, therefore, regarded as distinct<br />
species here. G. esculenta occurs on the ground in the spring, associated with<br />
conifers, is larger and more irregular in shape and has larger spores. G. infula<br />
occurs in the fall on rotten wood, probably always hardwood, is smaller than<br />
G. esculenta, has a more regularly saddle-shaped pileus, is less wrinkled and<br />
convoluted and has smaller spores.<br />
Undoubtedly many people eat this species with no ill eff'ects. I have seen<br />
it on sale in grocery stores in Finland and have eaten it myself when it was<br />
served by friends there and the flavor is excellent. However, reports of poisoning<br />
occur every once in a while and it has beenknown to cause death. Whether<br />
or not this is the result of personal idiosyncrasy, the occurrence of certain<br />
poisonous races of the fungus, or the development of the poisonous principle<br />
by the fungus under certain conditions is not yet certain. One significant case<br />
259
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