Cap is yellowish-brown, with darker parallel longitudinal ribs that are connected to form honeycomb-like pits. The vertical ridges are continuous and for the most part fairly well aligned, while the more randomly spaced horizontal ridges that run between pairs of vertical ridges are noticeably narrower. The flesh is white, brittle, thin and hollow. Stem creamy-white, smooth at the top but usually grooved near the base. It has just one hollow chamber. Spore print pale cream.
Microscopic Features: Spores are ellipsoidal, smooth, measuring 18-25 x 11-15µm, and hyaline, with oil droplets at each end.
Similar species include other Morchella species like Morchella esculenta (Common Morel). Gyromitra species can also be mistaken as Morchella elata but they lack the pitted cap and have a chambered, rather than a hollow, stem. One of these is Gyromitra esculenta (False Morel).
Note: The scientific name Morchella elata was proposed by Elias Magnus Fries from Sweden in 1822. DNA analysis in 2011 has shown North American black morels to be largely distinct from European species, therefore restricting the use of the Morchella elata name to Europe.
Morchella elata on the www.first-nature.com web site.
Morchella elata on Wikipedia.
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