Happy Earth Day! Paul shares a little about his adventure and education around Early Morels

Pam and I went on a mushroom hunt, found some excellent trash to pick up and then, later on our expedition, stumbled upon Early Morels, Verpa bohemica. “True” Morels (Morchella) grow in association with elms, cottonwoods, mature apple trees, firs, and also in gardens mulched with cardboard, disturbed areas, burned land, and construction sites. Go figure. Here is the The Early Morel: Verpa bohemica - a mushroom of questionable edibility/toxicity, although many books describe this mushroom as edible and choice, it has a storied reputation - by association - to Gyromitras. So, best you not consume this species…..but I will, thoroughly cooking them in a well ventilated space. My professor, Dr. Michael Beug, is not impressed by their flavor. Others are. This speaks to individual preferences, like with so many mushrooms and foods. This Verpa species comes up - usually - one week before the main Morchella season is in full flush. Please read up on this interesting species! Be careful. If any chemists are reading this and want a project - please analyze for monomethyl hydrazines (‘gyromitrins’). This toxin has been claimed by some to also be in Verpa bohemica - without evidence to the best of my knowledge. Loss of muscle control has been reported by some. I wonder if the suspect mushrooms were mis-identified. Don’t be alarmed - this is the way of culinary mycology. We only know which mushrooms are edible or poisonous - until chemical analytical methods became available - by the experiences of other myconauts who have consumed them previously. Same is true for most our wild foods! Have fun. Be careful. Out of an abundance of caution, I am repeating for emphasis: Do Not Consume. (Confused ? You are not alone with trying to ascertain Verpa bohemica’s edibility!) In any event, what a fun day Dr. Pam Kryskow (who filmed this) and I shared.

Early Morels and Little Friars, or a Short Essay on the Edibility of Verpa bohemica
by Paolo Davoli a,* and Nicola Sitta b
https://www.fungimag.com/spring-2015-articles/Early%20Morels%20LR.pdf