You wouldn't know it by looking at its scientific name, but
the false morel Gyromitra esculenta is
toxic. The word "esculenta" means edible. It was
named this because it is possible to eat this mushroom without
getting poisoned; many people have done so and
experienced no ill side effects. However, many people experience mushroom poisoning, also called mycetismus,
and die.
Photo
from
TomVolkFungi.net
Another problem with the false morel is its similarity to the "true" morel, Morchella esculenta. That is how it got its common name: "The False Morel." The true morel is a delicacy and is hunted almost obsessively by mushroom lovers the world over. Imagine hundreds, even thousands of people flocking to the woods (or maybe an old apple orchard)searching for this elusive mushroom. If any of these people aren't educated about the false morel, they could end up eating them and possibly getting poisoned. Don't be that guy! Visit the true morel page to learn about the false morel's distant cousin.
On this
website, you will learn everything you never knew you wanted
to
know about the false morel including its habitat, what and how
it eats,
how it reproduces, its interactions with other organisms, adaptations it
has, interesting facts, and, of course, how its toxin works.
My name is Willa Hammett-Hayes, and I attend
the University of Wisconsin La Crosse. My email is
hammett-.will@uwlax.edu
if you have any burning questions, but to find out more about me
visit the contact me
page. This page was last edited on April 19th, 2013.
photo source: Wikipedia.com
I definitely recommend checking out some of the other pages on
MultipleOrganisms.net.
The multiple organisms project is a database of websites created
by biology students here at UW-La Crosse. Not only is there a wide
variety of life represented, the websites are really cool!
To start your journey through the amazing world of Gyromitra
esculenta, visit the classification
page and find where this fungus fits into the great tree of
life!
**Mushroom Riddle!**
Q: What kind of mushroom talks badly about other mushrooms
behind their back?
A: Shiitake :)
Background picture on all pages
courtesy of Owen Burnham.